Australia have been drawn against defending champions Fiji for next month’s IRB Rugby Sevens series opener at the Gold Coast.

The draw for the October 13-14 event at Skilled Park in Robina has pitted Australia and Fiji in Pool B alongside Scotland and Tonga.

Australia will open the tournament against Tonga before tackling the highly-rated Fijians in the final match of the opening day’s play.

Australian coach Michael O’Connor said there were positives from the draw despite being pitted in the same group as Fiji.

“Should we qualify for the quarter-finals we won’t have to play New Zealand, South Africa or Fiji until at least the semi-finals on day two,” O’Connor said.

New Zealand and South Africa have been placed in Pool A alongside the USA and Canada, while England take on Samoa, Kenya and Spain in Pool C and Argentina, Wales, France and Portugal face off in a highly competitive Pool D.