THE RUGBY TORCH IS ALMOST LIT

by Joey Davies
@theonejoeyd

Rugby, and I include both codes in that, has always been thought of as a sport for English speaking countries with the exception of France. It was formed in Britain and played in its former colonies- Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific Islands and South Africa, as well as the states that make up the United Kingdom.

However, the sport itself is going through some sort of an expansion. Argentina has always embraced the union code since British immigrants first played it there, but recently its national side, also known as Los Pumas, have improved their results and standing immensely, with victories over the likes of England, Scotland and France, not to mention a third place showing at the 2007 World Cup. Plus in the league format, Super League and Australia's NRL have never had such sizeable television audiences and even France is warming to the Catalans Dragons at last.

But there is an exciting prospect coming over the horizon for rugby fans that will diversify the game even more. Back in 2009, the International Olympic Committee (IOC), voted two new sports to be introduced to the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. One was golf.

The other? Rugby sevens, a version of union that differentiates enormously from the traditional 15 vs 15. The minutes of each half? Quite aptly, seven! The pitch size remains the same as it would be for a full union game. This favours slick passing, possession and exciting attacks. But what the inclusion of rugby sevens does for the sport as a whole is open it up to a whole new audience worldwide. While there are many regions around the globe with no interest in rugby, the opportunity to compete for their country and claim a prestigious Olympic medal could change all of that in one swoop.

By including rugby sevens in the Olympics, it could create a boom for the traditional form of the sport and those countries who use the Games to develop its rugby infrastructure may end up profiting from the experience and the education it will provide the young players. The rules provide an excellent method of developing a player's game- agility, passing and handling before making the step up to the more physically demanding 15 vs 15 format. It's a bit like youth football where it is mandatory to play five-a-side till a certain age, and then seven-a-side after that.

Of course, the sevens form of rugby has its own important competitions. The IRB World Series is held over a season beginning in autumn, through New Year into the spring and beyond. Nine countries, mostly the traditional rugby heartlands, host a tournament each over two days, with the final point totals dependent on the finishing position in the table. Whichever nation has the most points at the end of the ninth two-day competition is the World Series champion. New Zealand has been the dominant force, having triumphed in 10 of the 13 editions since its inauguration in 1999.

It's not just those nine hosts who compete though. A few interesting additions are present that are not even thought about when it comes to 15-a-side rugby union- the likes of Spain, Portugal, Uruguay and even the United States, where the use of an egg-shaped ball inclines solely toward the gridiron fields. With the confirmation of sevens in Rio de Janeiro, expect the sport's participation to increase, especially with the dream of Olympic gold something to aspire for. Indeed the host nation Brazil will be entering a team at the Games. With a population of over 190 million, there will be plenty of natives chomping at the bit I would imagine. It might create a rugby boom in the country if the team produces an impressive performance.

The other major cornerstone of the rugby sevens calendar is, or was, the World Cup held every four years. This is also a two-day contest, however it consists of a pool stage and then a last 16, quarter-finals and so on. Unlike the league format of the World Series, New Zealand have not been able to dictate the knock-out format. But the 2013 tournament in Russia, held this June, will be the final instalment with the Olympic competition effectively replacing it in three years' time.

But it should be an enthralling conversion (pun intended) when rugby sevens hits Rio. It could open avenues to brand new destinations in the governing bodies' attempts to expand the sport, it can provide an excellent learning curve for those who want to improve their overall rugby union skills, and most importantly of all it will allow youngsters' childhood dreams to become reality.

I for one am fascinated by its Olympic incorporation, and I look forward to seeing it in action.