Dubai sevens

Interim head coach Naca Cawanibuka ‏described it as a "tough day at the office" while Captain Osea Kolinisau tweeted that he was "Proud of the boys. A good start to the season and we will come out stronger next week."

Fiji still had the most players named in the tournament dream team, with newcomer Setareki Bituniyata joining Kolinisau and Jerry Tuwai.

Fiji have been drawn in Pool B in Cape Town, alongside France, Kenya and Japan.

The All Black sevens were crushed 40-nil by South Africa in this morning's Cup quarter-finals before being beaten by Australia 20-12 in the fifth place playoff.

New Zealand finished equal seventh/eighth alongside France and sit in the same place in the standings with 10 points.

South Africa claimed top prize after they beat last season's series champions and Olympic gold medallists, Fiji, 26-14 in the final.

Since Fiji won Olympic gold in August, champion coach Ben Ryan and a handful of players have departed the team.

Welshman Gareth Baber has been appointed head coach through to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics but doesn't take the reins until January.

Despite a number of changes to the Fiji set-up only two new caps have been selected for the opening legs in Dubai and Cape Town.

Interim coach Naca Cawanibuka said expectations remain the same.

Forbes was named as one of the 12 players to travel to Dubai for the opening round of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series and currently shares the tournament appearance record of 79 with Samoa's Uale Mai.

The 33-year-old stepped down as captain ahead of the 2015-16 series, with Scott Curry set to lead the side in Dubai. Curry suffered a shoulder injury at the opening round of the series last year, ruling him out of the following nine rounds.

Fiji will have a new coaching set-up following the departure of Ben Ryan but as the reigning Dubai, series and Olympic champions they will start as firm favourites. The islanders will also play Wales and Argentina in pool A on the first day of the men's season on 2 December 2016.

Last season's second-ranked side South Africa, bronze medallists at the Olympics, start against African qualifier Uganda with further matches against last season's London champions Scotland and the USA.