2016-17 Sevens World Series

Updated 1425 GMT (2225 HKT) December 2, 2016

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Osea Kolinisau (above) captained Fiji to a second successive world series title and then <a href="http://cnn.com/2016/08/11/sport/fiji-rugby-olympics-sevens-rio-2016/" target="_blank">a historic gold medal at the Olympic Games</a>. English coach Ben Ryan <a href="http://cnn.com/2016/08/29/sport/ben-ryan-fiji-rugby-sevens/" target="_blank">has departed after reviving the Pacific Island nation's fortunes</a>, and will be replaced in January by Welshman Gareth Baber, who has left his job with the Hong Kong team.

Photos: Guide to the men's teams

Fiji: 2015-16 World Series - Champion – Osea Kolinisau (above) captained Fiji to a second successive world series title and then a historic gold medal at the Olympic Games. English coach Ben Ryan has departed after reviving the Pacific Island nation's fortunes, and will be replaced in January by Welshman Gareth Baber, who has left his job with the Hong Kong team.

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Seabelo Senatla has been overall top try scorer for the past two series, and the speedster will be key to the Blitzboks' hopes of taking the next step up after being runner-up for the last four seasons. South Africa won the bronze medal at Rio 2016.

Photos: Guide to the men's teams

South Africa: 2015-16 World Series - 2nd – Seabelo Senatla has been overall top try scorer for the past two series, and the speedster will be key to the Blitzboks' hopes of taking the next step up after being runner-up for the last four seasons. South Africa won the bronze medal at Rio 2016.

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New Zealand is rebuilding after the disappointment of missing out on an Olympic medal, but veteran former captain DJ Forbes (pictured) has made a record 80th tournament appearance for the 12-time series champion in the Dubai opener. Former players Scott Waldrom and Tomasi Cama will be interim coaches until June 2017, when Scotsman Clark Laidlaw takes over from <a href="http://cnn.com/2016/10/14/sport/gordon-tietjens-samoa-rugby-sevens-coach/" target="_blank">the departed Gordon Tietjens. </a>

Photos: Guide to the men's teams

NZ: 2015-16 World Series - 3rd – New Zealand is rebuilding after the disappointment of missing out on an Olympic medal, but veteran former captain DJ Forbes (pictured) has made a record 80th tournament appearance for the 12-time series champion in the Dubai opener. Former players Scott Waldrom and Tomasi Cama will be interim coaches until June 2017, when Scotsman Clark Laidlaw takes over from the departed Gordon Tietjens.

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Henry Hutchison (above) was last season's rookie of the year, scoring 27 tries, and the 19-year-old will again be a key player for Australia. Sam Caslick, brother of <a href="http://cnn.com/2016/12/01/sport/charlotte-caslick-world-series-rugby-sevens/index.html" target="_blank">Olympic women's gold medalist Charlotte Caslick</a>, is one of the new faces in the squad but her boyfriend, captain Lewis Holland, is ruled out with long-term injury.

Photos: Guide to the men's teams

Australia: 2015-16 World Series - 4th – Henry Hutchison (above) was last season's rookie of the year, scoring 27 tries, and the 19-year-old will again be a key player for Australia. Sam Caslick, brother of Olympic women's gold medalist Charlotte Caslick, is one of the new faces in the squad but her boyfriend, captain Lewis Holland, is ruled out with long-term injury.

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Gaston Revol (right) will make his 50th tournament appearance at the Dubai season-opener -- only head coach Santiago Gomez Cora (61) and Nicolás Bruzzone (55) have played more for Pumas Sevens. The Argentina captain, 30, will hope to make amends for his crucial penalty miss in the sudden-death Olympic quarterfinal loss to Great Britain by winning the first sevens title of his career.

Photos: Guide to the men's teams

Argentina: 2015-16 World Series - 5th – Gaston Revol (right) will make his 50th tournament appearance at the Dubai season-opener -- only head coach Santiago Gomez Cora (61) and Nicolás Bruzzone (55) have played more for Pumas Sevens. The Argentina captain, 30, will hope to make amends for his crucial penalty miss in the sudden-death Olympic quarterfinal loss to Great Britain by winning the first sevens title of his career.

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After matching their best series finish, the Americans disappointingly failed to make the quarterfinals at Rio 2016. Speedster Perry Baker (above) will again be a key player after finishing second in the try stakes last season, with 48 in 55 matches.

Photos: Guide to the men's teams