Running Rugby Sevens thrills the crowds

But the cause of running rugby at the highest level is not forlorn - as we saw both at Twickenham and in the splendid beginning to the 2007/2008 IRB Sevens World Series in Dubai.

Against all expectations it was the scratch Barbarians XV which prevailed against World Champions South Africa at Twickenham in front of 60,000 very vocal fans. Some might say that this was only an exhibition match and that the Springboks won't be too disappointed - but don't you believe it.

There are no more fanatical teams or Supporters than the Boks and they always want to win. And the Barbarians weren't just there for the honour of taking part - their celebrations at the final whistle showed how much they also wanted to win. The Baa-Baas scored three scintillating tries by putting the emphasis on handling and running rugby.

The South Africans were still a bit in World Cup Final mode and although they did score one try they were far less inventive than their opponents and unlike them they hardly ever ran from defence. It was a fitting finale to the great Jason Robinson's career and most of us present rose to acknowledge this wonderful Rugby player (in both codes) and mark his contribution to the game.

Sevens special appeal

Jason Robinson would have been a fine player of Rugby Sevens but his fifteen-a-side commitments meant that he had few opportunities to play in a game where speed, handing and creativity are essential. As usual there were tries galore in the Dubai Sevens and some close and exciting encounters before the All Black's eventually prevailed.

The special appeal of an International Rugby Board (IRB) Sevens tournament, one that should help even the spectator with the shortest of attention spans, is that each match is 22 minutes (30 minutes in the Finals) of concentrated action. And whilst occasionally there are points from the boot it is a try-scoring game. Curiously Sevens has never become a popular sport except, of course, for the spectators at the events themselves.

Dubai was a sell-out - as will be Hong Kong and most of the other World Series tournaments, but the British media largely ignores the sport. For the Dubai Sevens, despite the presence of all three of the British teams, television coverage was minimal and my Sunday newspaper didn't even mention the competition anywhere in its 22 page Sports section.

The format of an international Sevens tournaments is that it is an "event" with the matches following on from one other with the shortest of breaks in between so that the excitement mounts gradually over the two days. On the final day we see the quarter-finals, semi-finals and finals of each of the Shield, Bowl, Plate and Cup competitions with only a brief break at lunchtime interrupting the action.

Perversely, at Dubai, we still have what I call the "Fat men in Pink Shirts" syndrome with the international professionals making way for less than gifted and often less then athletic amateurs for three ghastly hours on the final afternoon. One day commercial pressures will get rid of this absurd anachronism and Dubai will take its place with Hong Kong, George, Twickenham and the rest as a properly organised and fully professional tournament.

Last Saturday, whilst no true rugby fan will have taken much pleasure from seeing an aging, panting, balding "veteran" struggle over the line in the "Vets Trophy Final", there was fortunately joy enough for all spectators in the performance of the international stars in the proper matches.

Changes to Rugby's Laws in prospect

At both Dubai and at Twickenham there was the opportunity to celebrate the true spirit of rugby, the handling game. The IRB is presently looking hard at the Laws of Rugby Union to try and recapture this spirit and to restore the balance between backs and forwards and between kicking and running.

There are some "International Law Variations" (ILVs) being tested at the moment and it is to be hoped that these, if adopted, will help Rugby Union become more often a free-flowing running game. The initial feedback on the ILVs is reported as being very positive with the variations creating a more open and fast-moving game.

The IRB should also consider whether there are some aspects both of Sevens and of Rugby League which could be incorporated into the fifteen-a-side game to make it more enjoyable, less attritional and a better spectacle for the paying public.