This will be the first time a World Series event takes place in Brazil and with the Olympic host nation already assured of an automatic qualification spot for Rio 2016, the country's players can use the event to showcase their skills and attract more people to the sport, which has seen a 25 per cent increase in participation over the past two years, according to the IRB.

"This is a massive opportunity for rugby and women's sport in Brazil and, along with our friends from all the other competing nations, we are looking forward to showcasing the breath-taking sport of rugby sevens ahead of the Rio Olympics," said President of the Brazil Rugby Union, (BRU) Sami Arap Sobrinho.

"We are honoured to be representing our nation at Rio 2016 and proud to welcome the world's top women's rugby sevens players to Brazil this weekend.

"I urge sports fans to come along and experience our sport, once you have seen the tremendous skill and endeavour, you'll be hooked."

This week is the third of five scheduled rounds on the women's World Series tour and SporTV will be broadcasting all the action from the Arena Barueri live, while the tournament can also be viewed online via the IRB's streaming service.

Hosts Brazil, eighth on the overall standings, will take on Atlanta Sevens runners-up Canada along with Spain and the Netherlands in Pool C.

The Netherlands will be one of the sides out to upset home fans in Sao Paulo as they face hosts Brazil in Pool C ©Getty Images



Series leaders and Atlanta winners New Zealand will look to make it back-to-back wins as they take on Pool A rivals England, Ireland and the United States.

Argentina will join the series for the first time this year and they have been drawn in Pool B alongside Russia, Japan and Dubai Sevens winners Australia.

"The IRB Women's Sevens Series really is taking off and the standard of competition in Atlanta was outstanding once again," said IRB chairman Bernard Lapasset.

"I am sure that São Paulo will advance the sport.

"We're so excited to bring this top class event to Brazil now, just over two years out from the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.

"Competition like this prepares the world's top women for what it will be like in Rio, and they will benefit enormously from it."

To view the full match schedule click here.

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