James Mortimer and irb.com    04.Oct.2012Getty Images

The fourteenth HSBC Sevens World Series kicks off next weekend in the Gold Coast, the first of nine legs, with Japan entering the fray as the newest destination.

New Zealand begins the tournament as defending champions, having won their tenth title with a semi-final appearance in Glasgow, the final leg of the 2011/2012 Series.

Fiji were runners-up to New Zealand in the overall series, and the two will begin their intense rivalry straight off the bat in Australia.

It was the Pacific Islanders, not the Kiwis, who made the best possible start to last season, with Fiji defeating New Zealand 26-12 in the first Cup Final this time last year.

New Zealand won three legs last year, in South Africa, New Zealand and Scotland.

To view the officials for the Series, click here.

To view the 2012 Gold Coast Sevens head-to-heads, click here.

To view the recent form guide, click here.