The Emirates Airline Dubai Rugby Sevens proved why it is the city’s most popular sporting event of the year, with nearly 100,000 people flocking to a little patch of sand in the UAE desert for three days of sevens heaven.

– #Quiz360: Monday's teasers – WIN a six-month Target Gym membership
– South Africa aim to create dynasty after Dubai Rugby Sevens success

It’s a superbly run tournament that is enjoyed immensely by the fans from the UAE and around the world who packed into the 50,000-seater Sevens stadium for the 45th instalment of the event.

The Dubai Sevens attracts rugby fans of all ages, but it was also great to hear the players talking about their love for the desert classic this past weekend. Legends and rookies alike expressed their admiration for one of the most popular stop offs  on the sevens calendar.

Among those delighted to be in Dubai were tournament veterans and legends of the game Brian Lima and Apollo Perelini, as well as event newcomer Perry Baker, who played for the USA in the HSBC Sevens World Series.

Lima said: “It’s definitely one of my favourites. It’s changed a lot over the last five or six years and I’m sure it has one of the best attendances of any sevens tournaments in the world, apart from Hong Kong. 

“I’ve played here before with the Samoa team, and now the veterans. All the teams that compete on the IRB circuit want to come to Dubai because it’s one of the best.”

Perelini added: “It’s still one of my favourite tournaments. It’s the best tournament, it’s the best place to be. There’s no tournament in the world where there’s internationals on the inside pitch and the outside pitches. Every single field is full of rugby. It’s a weekend of total rugby, it’s rugby heaven.”

Former Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Baker said: “I feel good to be here and it’s an honour playing in this tournament.”

The event has been voted Dubai’s favourite sporting event at the What’s On Awards for 12 of the last 13 years.