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Rugby sevens hopes to grow in popularity

Rugby sevens, the abbreviated form of rugby union, is seeking to ride the wave of popularity in the sport generated by the highly successful World Cup in France.

The three-day season-opening Dubai leg of the World Series sevens circuit run by world rugby's governing body, the International Rugby Board (IRB), attracted 32,000 spectators a day, but importantly offered a showcase for many future international stars.

The recently-concluded World Cup featured 175 players who gained experience on the sevens circuit and no less than 10 of the 20 teams were captained by players who graduated from the shortened form of the game.

Agustin Pichot (Argentina), Morgan Williams (Canada), Vasco Uva (Portugal), Semo Sititi (Samoa), Gareth Thomas (Wales) and Mike Hercus (US) were all the full-time captains of their teams.

And at one stage or another over the course of the tournament, four others -- Jean-Baptiste Elissalde (France), Irakli Abuseridze (Georgia), Felipe Contepomi (Argentina) and Corne Powell (Namibia) -- also took over captaincy duties.

Given that front-five forwards are not suited to the pace and skill-set levels of sevens, the figure of RWC players with sevens experience equates to almost 50 percent of the players in the competition.

Outstanding former sevens players who starred in France also include Argentina's play-making duo Felipe Contepomi and Juan Martin Hernandez, whose sublime passing and kicking skills were honed on the IRB Sevens circuit.

Veteran New Zealand coach Gordon Tietjens, whose side won last weekend's Dubai tournament -- beating Fiji 31-21 in the final -- has unearthed a string of players who have starred in the 15-a-side game, notably Christian Cullen, Jonah Lomu and Joe Rokocoko.

Along with Rokocoko, former sevens stars Nick Evans, Chris Masoe, Rodney So'oialo and Isaia Toeava all appeared for the All Blacks at the World Cup.
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