TORONTO - Canada has been drawn in a pool with series champion Fiji, Argentina and Japan for the opening stop on the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series in Dubai next month.

The 16-team men's event at the Emirates Airline Dubai Rugby Sevens runs Dec. 4-5. A 12-country women's competition will be played Dec. 3-4.

The Canadian women are in a group with Fiji, Ireland and the U.S.

Dubai marks the beginning of a 10-stop men's sevens season that features a visit to Canada for the first time. B.C. Place Stadium will host the men March 12-13.

Canada, under new coach Liam Middleton, finished ninth on the 2014-15 circuit.

Dubai is the first of four stops for the women with their series wrapping up April 16-17 in Langford, B.C.

The Canadian women were runners-up to New Zealand last season and have already secured Olympic qualification. The Canadian men look to join them via a qualification tournament later this year.