In a move that will align the annual series with the Olympic Games, World Rugby has also announced a restructuring of the final competition day.

The traditional Cup, Plate, Bowl and Shield winners format will be replaced by two different competitions.

The top two teams in each pool will progress to the Cup competition and the chance to win a gold medal, whilst lower ranked teams will now contest a new Challenge Trophy tournament.

The restructure means that each Series event will conclude with a 13th-place positional play-off, followed by the Challenge Trophy for ninth place and the fifth place play-off.

There will then be a bronze medal match and ultimately the gold medal match to decide the Cup winners.

The structure is similar to that operated at the Monaco and Dublin Olympic Games qualification events in June.

The number of matches the teams play across each event remains the same, as does the points distribution.

"Rugby sevens continues to go from strength to strength after a hugely successful Olympic Games debut," said World Rugby Chairman Bill Beaumont.

"We are very much looking forward to what promises to be a very exciting and competitive men's and women's series.

"This is the first season within the Tokyo 2020 cycle and therefore the timing of these adjustments makes sense.

"They are designed to enhance fan understanding of the schedule and format, while providing teams with the opportunity to win a medal, as is fitting with an Olympic sport."

The men's and women's Series will both kick off their new seasons in Dubai on December 1.

Fiji, who won the gold medal as sevens made its Olympic debut in Rio in August, are the defending men's champions.

Australia, the women's Olympic champions, are also the Sevens Series holders.