Waisale Serevi is a legend of sevens rugby in his own right but he admits he is humbled to have been asked to coach former Springbok scrum-half Joost van der Westhuizen’s J9 Legends team at the Dubai Sevens.

– INTERVIEW: New Zealand legend Sonny Bill Williams
– SEVENS: South Africa welcome Test stars in Dubai
– SEVENS: National pride fuelling Fiji’s desire

The Fijian played in the first J9 Legends team in Dubai two years ago but family commitments prevented him from participating last year.

The team was formed by Van der Westhuizen who, as a sufferer of Motor Neurone Disease, uses his J9 Foundation to do charitable work and raise awareness of the condition.

Both times they have come to Dubai they have been defeated in the Trophy final of the International Vets competition.

With Serevi back in a player-coach role this year, however, and backed up by several stars, including another former Springbok in Conrad Jantjies, ex-Italy scrum-half Paul Griffen and former Tonga lock Viliami Vaki, he will be hoping it is third time lucky for J9.

“I was honoured to play in the first J9 Legends team back in 2013, and am very proud that Joost has asked me to coach the team for our Dubai Rugby Sevens campaign this year,” said Serevi, who was a member of the Fiji side that won the Rugby World Cup Sevens in 1997 and 2005.

“All the guys on the team have the mindset to help while you can. If you are still capable, why not help? Joost, like all sufferers of Motor Neurone Disease, did not get a choice in regards to this disease, it just happened.

“When he played he earned our respect, and once again, with his ‘why not me’ attitude and by attacking this disease head on he has earned it all over again – if not more.”

Serevi, widely considered the best sevens player of all time, takes charge of a team that boasts a collective 159 international caps.

Since the first J9 team took to the field, the jersey has been worn by an illustrious collection of stars including Carlos Spencer, Colin Charvis, Stephen Larkham, Brian Lima and, of course, Serevi himself. 

Another side teeming with icons of the game and also gunning for the International Vets title are Joining Jack. The team was established in 2011 by former Wigan Warriors rugby league player Andy Johnson and his wife Alex following their son Jack being diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). Joining Jack have some pretty useful reinforcements for the 2015 edition.

The squad includes England Rugby World Cup stars Owen Farrell and Richard Wigglesworth, as well as Farrell’s dad and England coach Andy Farrell, former Wigan Warriors star Kris Radlinski and ex-England back Mark Cueto.

Former dual code star Andy Farrell, an old team-mate of Johnson’s at Wigan, is happy to help in any way he can.

“We love coming out to Dubai to spread the word about Joining Jack,” Farrell, a member of England’s RWC coaching team said. “We have support from all over the rugby world. As a rugby family it’s so pleasing to see.”