2008–09 IRB Sevens World Series normal 16 teams) was spread out over a three-day period. The series' tournaments are identical to 2007–2008 and span the globe: The 2009 Rugby World Cup Sevens was not a part of the 2008-09 series. Unlike the 2005 edition held in Hong Kong, the 2009 edition did not replace one of the 2008-09 series events. The World Cup was held in Dubai from March 5–7, 2009 and won by Wales. Prior to the season, the IRB announced the 12 "core teams" that would receive guaranteed berths in each event in the 2008–09 series: The one new core team was the
Dubai Challenge Cup Dubai Challenge Cup Dubai Challenge Cup, also known as the Dubai Football Challenge, is a friendly football tournament founded by Mohammed bin Rashed and the United Arab Emirates national football team. It was first held in January 2007, with another tournament scheduled for January 2008, with both won by German side Hamburger SV. The 2007 Dubai Challenge Cup was played in January 2007 by four teams: United Arab Emirates, Iran, Hamburger SV and VfB Stuttgart. The 2008 Dubai Challenge Cup was played in January 2008 by four teams: United Arab Emirates, China PR, Hamburger SV and Vasco da Gama. The