The season-opener is due to take place at Skilled Park on Australia's Gold Coast on October 12 and 13, where the hosts will face Samoa, Argentina and Scotland in Pool D as they look for their first home sevens win since 2002, when they were victorious in Brisbane.

Defending champions New Zealand have been drawn in Pool A alongside Kenya, the United States and regional qualifiers Tonga, while last season's runners-up South Africa face a stern European challenge against England, France and Spain in Pool B.

Pool C is headed by Fiji, winners of last year's Gold Coast Sevens event, and they will face Wales, Canada and Portugal as they look to defend their crown.

New Zealand will begin their title defence against Kenya, the US and Tonga in Pool A

"This is a pivotal time for rugby sevens with three years until our debut at the Olympic Games and the Gold Coast is an exciting and eye-catching place for the HSBC Sevens World Series to kick off," said IRB general manager for rugby sevens Avan Lee.

"The Series is growing as a sporting brand all the time, attracting hundreds of thousands through the turnstiles around the world and millions more on television.

"Working with the Australian Rugby Union and the eight other hosts I'm sure we're in for another superb season."

Click here to view the full match schedule.

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