Mint Condition
Club Legend
Anyone else here watch the IRB 7's from time to time?
In the current tournament in Dubai Portugal, Canada and Kenya have made the cup (first tier) quarter finals while England, South Africa and Australia have to fight it out in the bowl (second tier).
It's getting to the point where every match in these tournaments is competitive. Olympics inclusion for rugby 7's is a massive deal for the growth of the sport and I don't think it will be long at all until there are 30+ competitive international sides. Qualifying for the olympics in 2016 will be very difficult as apparently only 12 teams will compete. Women's 7's is starting to grow quickly too, with an IRB women's series starting up this year (the first leg at this Dubai event).
It's going to be very interesting to see how 7's grows in the next few years and whether that hinders or helps the growth of 15's. I suspect it might hinder it in the short to medium term in some regions (eg Asia and Africa) but help in others (the Americas and continental Europe). It will be interesting to see whether any professional franchise based 7's leagues pop up as well (like the IPL etc in cricket) and how that changes the landscape.
I think in a few years we will see the top stars in rugby and even rugby league signing contracts that allow them to play in lucrative 7's tournaments in the off season.
In the current tournament in Dubai Portugal, Canada and Kenya have made the cup (first tier) quarter finals while England, South Africa and Australia have to fight it out in the bowl (second tier).
It's getting to the point where every match in these tournaments is competitive. Olympics inclusion for rugby 7's is a massive deal for the growth of the sport and I don't think it will be long at all until there are 30+ competitive international sides. Qualifying for the olympics in 2016 will be very difficult as apparently only 12 teams will compete. Women's 7's is starting to grow quickly too, with an IRB women's series starting up this year (the first leg at this Dubai event).
It's going to be very interesting to see how 7's grows in the next few years and whether that hinders or helps the growth of 15's. I suspect it might hinder it in the short to medium term in some regions (eg Asia and Africa) but help in others (the Americas and continental Europe). It will be interesting to see whether any professional franchise based 7's leagues pop up as well (like the IPL etc in cricket) and how that changes the landscape.
I think in a few years we will see the top stars in rugby and even rugby league signing contracts that allow them to play in lucrative 7's tournaments in the off season.