The man considered by many to be the greatest player of all time, Wales and Lions scrum half Gareth Edwards, has paid tribute to the modern Sevens game, saying he believes it can take the sport of Rugby Union to a new level.
Edwards played 53 times for Wales between 1967 and 1978, as well as lining up in 10 tests for the British & Irish Lions. His was a crucial role in the British & Irish Lions' famous test series victory in New Zealand in 1971.
In a recent interview with Total Rugby, Edwards expressed his delight at Rugby's success in reaching the Olympics in the form of Sevens, which he considers to be a major trump card for the global game.
"Without question that might have the biggest impact of all," he said.
"Think of the potential of all of those countries who don't play rugby union as such now, certainly not to the degree that we know about globally, huge countries like India and China.
"When we've gone to the Hong Kong Sevens or the Singapore event over the years, we've seen how they've really come along already, and all of a sudden now they're bringing their own niche, their own style to it.
"Look at what Kenya have become in Sevens. With the Olympics now it could be the beginning of a huge explosion in the Game."
Global world of Sevens
Edwards also expressed a number of concerns with the modern day 15-a-side game, but was unerring in his praise of the shortened form.
"I'm sure I would enjoy the modern game, but I think people associate the Game back in the 70s with an excitement. Although there's a lot of movement in today's Game, there isn't the flexibility that there was - the defence and attack was more unexpected.
"I often wonder how the Welsh back three would have coped in today's Game.
"For a scrum half I think it would have been a lot more difficult, I would have been marked more closely, but the back three we had in Gerald Davies, JPR Williams and JJ Williams, who were also the back bone of the Lions, they had the philosophy that if anyone kicked the ball long to them, they would run it back and attack it back and that brought a quality and excitement about the Game, which at that time really dragged the Game into the modern age.
"With defences so tight now and everyone kicking the back and forth, would Gerald Davies be kicking the ball back? Would JPR be kicking the ball back? Would JJ Williams kick the ball back? Somehow or other I'd like to think that wouldn't, but you have to adapt to what's in front of you, so maybe the modern tackle area really needs to be looked at."
Clearly, the breakdown and tackle area involves less players in Sevens, but it is equally dynamic and crucial. It is the space on the pitch, though, that marks out the real difference and makes the shorter form, in Edwards eyes, such a compelling spectacle.
"Playing Sevens introduces a very exciting form of rugby that really could be the spark that lights rugby to the world, globally."
Do you agree with Gareth Edwards' views on Sevens? Email your thoughtstoirbsevensweb@irb.com
