Sevens is rugby’s global mass-market product. It’s easily consumed; it’s short and relatively simple to grasp for the uninitiated – very much like T20 cricket.
Sevens might well be rugby’s financial and participation expansion tool but is it destroying the traditional format?
I should start by saying that I really enjoy sevens. I have spent the last two weeks on a personally imposed hardship posting to Hong Kong and Singapore to document the format from the front lines. It has been entertaining and harsh on my body.
Over these two weeks I lost count of the number of times people would ask about the technicality of certain infringements or lack of officiating, and the overarching response from the numerous people I spoke to was, “that’s sevens!”
This nonchalant attitude may well have its origins in Hong Kong, sevens’ oldest, most famous and original tournament. Everyone knows that what happens in Hong Kong stays in Hong Kong but the organisers of sevens missed that call out and decided to apply the HK partytime attitude to the whole format, forever more. Who could really blame them?
Its obvious that sevens is much more lenient on many full arm indiscretions, and that is mostly to do with the speed of the game. Seven’s appeal comes from its short length and speed of play. It is in itself an acknowledgement that fifteen-aside rugby can often be slow and over officiated.
Similarly, it has long been World Rugby’s fear that the sheer number of technical rules, and the interpretation involved in officiating them could destroy rugby’s appeal as a global sport.
I can understand this fear and it is true that fifteen-aside rugby does constantly battle with the fine line between letter of the law interpretation and free-flowing running rugby. Both forms of the game desire a free flowing spirit, but in Sevens it is almost impossible to be bogged down.
Sevens is still rugby union. The general laws still apply with some obvious variations. I had the following question asked of me a number of times. Why is it then that coming in from the side of the ruck and not rolling away occur almost constantly?
These always come down to interpretation and in sevens it is true that there are often moments where a ruck is not technically formed or the like.
Why do I care so much? I think it seems strange that some of the fundamental laws of rugby are often disregarded. I understand fully the lack of scrum infringement care, the small advantage and the almost zero care for taking a tap on the mark that can be oh so irritating in fifteens.
Has the importance of speed taken over from the rules of the sport?
As we all gear up for rugby’s Olympic inclusion and global expansion, its clear World Rugby is not looking for a return to extreme officiating. As much as I like sevens and the buzz it creates in the cities I have watched it in, it is kind of sad that its growth attacks most of what I hold dear as a rugby fan. But I am also a big fan of more people playing and enjoying rugby so if that is the cost, then so be it!
It comes down to perspective. I suppose I will get over it. For myself and a number of others with whom I spoke, fifteens rugby has been a constant in our lives. Seven’s is not a new thing, but maybe rugbyites like myself need to move on from shouting at the screen for someone to roll away and just let the game flow.
RobC
Roar Guru
Thanks for the article Andrew. imo its neither. But it will grow participation rates, improved skills and feeder for the 15 code
Fiddlesticks
Guest
They are too busy watching basketball ice hockey and baseball Senor wishful thinker
Fiddlesticks
Guest
No it's not mr king of wishful thinking
The Battered Slav
Guest
Still having fun yelling and shaking your fist at the clouds I see.
Jock M
Guest
Lindsay Amner, Rucking or not there is more that a problem that just needs a little 'tweaking'. The contest at the breakdown is not fair and there must be a true contest for the ball- see Soccer,AFL ,basketball you name it. I suggest that the tackled player must release on making contact with the ground and that maybe the contest could then become a free for all- hands and feet could be used- this would commit all forwards to the contest and free up the back lines- it would also create urgency at the breakdown and would force more players to remain on their feet and make the ball available to their team mates so that a maul ensued. The game has been misguided for so long that many people will not understand my logic without an actual demonstration.
Lindsay Amner
Roar Guru
ClarkeG I know you wouldn't say rugby is dead, that''s Jock's line. I also agree that there are certain things that could do with a tweak still. There are numerous issues at the scrum. I don't think that a prop proving to be not quite as good as his opponent, or binding wrongly, etc, in an activity that is merely supposed to restart play, is worth 3 points, potentially the winning or losing of the game. Reffing interpretations are starting to slip back a bit towards 2007, penalising the ball carrier holding on rather than the tackler releasing. I agree a ruck would be good. Rucking a player out of the way does not injure him, but basically touching a player with your feet is now considered stamping so rucking has disappeared. I would agree that rucking is dead. I usually have an opinion on what should be done, but I don't have a solution for this that would satisfy both safety conscious mums and rucking purists.
peter hughes
Guest
7s rugby is neither salvation or death knell. Rugby doesn't need any saving & nothing can kill it as an international sport Nor is 7's comparable to T20 cricket imo. Those facts leave this article in the rubbish bin imo
Jock M
Guest
Brett McKay, No film as yet but working on the idea- I had better get a move on before the Super 16 franchises in Australia go broke and soccer and AFL destroy Rugby altogether. Lindsay Anner- changes in car models and design are one thing- changes to the road rules is another. My 93 year old father is a tennis tragic and was a good player himself.I envy him because when he watches Wimbleton and the like he is seeing the game that he played and not some hackneyed version of it as has happened with Rugby. It is beyond belief that anyone could say that there is a fair contest for the ball today- there is simply no such thing-the tackled player is allowed to place the ball in such a fashion that there is little chance of the opposition gaining possession- the modern ruck maul laws are designed in such a manner that the defence in most cases choses to not even compete for the ball.Watch how ball runners go to ground instead of remaining on their feet and allowing a maul to occurr- why would you remain standing when you can lie down and play the ball?Mauling is a lost art. As ClarkeG has written;the ruck has to be fixed. Perhaps some of you could make suggestions as to what I should say to non Rugby players who ask me why there are no Ellas or Campisis throwing the ball around now with magical skill- I tell them that it is breakdown law changes and the reduced space that is the problem- gone are the days of one on one defence- backs now have to contend with a defensive wall created by forwards who stay clear of the breakdown area because the law makers have left them with no other option. I appreciate the opportunity to have this discussion- as far as I am concerned Rugby is virtually dead but the way they are playing the game in NZ gives me some optimism- knowing a little of politics I think that it is highly probable that a new generation will suddenly rediscover the old game! Incidentally a man I know played Rugby for Cambridge University and Combined British Services- he too is devastated with the state of modern Rugby.
DaniE
Roar Guru
Love this idea
Moreton Bait
Guest
Agreed. What if the future for Rugby was that 7s became neither the salvation for the game in general nor the death-knell for XVs. What if the popularity of 7s, and the defence-laden stagnation of many XVs matches lead to a compromise resulting in one integrated game for all - and for all body shapes -TENS!?
ClarkeG
Guest
Should read ....Do rugby powers hope to ever eclipse soccer? – of course not, impossible.
ClarkeG
Guest
Actually I believe certain law changes and certain refereeing methods are holding the potential of rugby back but I will save discussion on this for another time if you don't mind. But yes other changes have had a positive affect. And yes popularity of rugby is growing around certain parts of the world. But all I will say at this point is that until such time as rugby gets back to some where near having a ruck in the traditional sense (no not talking about players rucking bodies of opponents) then it will not reach it's potential in my view. And if you or anyone thinks that this area of the game does not have issues then you will have to explain why NZR has agreed to trial laws around this in its treasured Nat Prov Championship and why leading identities in the game such as Dave Rennie speak of the need to tidy up this element. But just to clarify something in case you had overlooked it, I did not say rugby was dead. But in my view it does have issues holding it back.
ClarkeG
Guest
I think rugby is starting to take off in Brazil. Do rugby powers hope to ever eclipse soccer? - of course, impossible. Does it need to? - of course not. Brazil recently defeated USA in the first ever rugby match between the two nations. Big deal? - some might say. But who would have ever thought the two nations would ever play a rugby match let alone have Brazil win it.
Zero Gain
Guest
'Entirely different sport', very true. Not really a place for old style front rowers so not really rugby. I find it pretty boring compared to 15 a side. Not enough elements to make it truely compelling, for me.
CUW
Guest
think a lot of people are writing about 7s , without really watching it regularly and just based on hear-say. the point that it is the same style is one such thing - which is far from the truth. no two teams play alike and the same team at times plays differntly during the two days. for example , when nz and sa played in hk , both teams resoreted to kicking the ball - which in purists view is a big NO NO. so it just showed there is no set style. then when it came to the final this week , kenya played a crazy in ur face game against the fijians and managed to rattle them - something not many manage to do. IMO , 7s is an acquired taste - just like drinking wine. people who come to watch with the pre-conceived idea this is rugger version of T20 or it is rugger on steroids , will carry that view for long time. but if u come with an open mind and just watch and admire the skills on show , while grasping the atmosphere (which u will never find at a test match0 then it will be dope :)
CUW
Guest
how can u say T20 is an entirely different game??? there are no rules that are specifically written for T20 as opposed for other formats. the rules are an abbreviation of the ODI rules. in 50 overs u allow a bowler 10 overs max. when u take T20 it becomes 5. in odi there is a 10 over power play ; in t20 it becomes 6. there is a free hit for no balls (including those for height) in both games. admit it is different from the rules applied to test matches ; but both 50 over and 20 over cricket is played more or less based on the same rules. the special rules if at all , are used to speed up the t20 game - like the one stating batters must cross inside the boundry when one gets out; there is a time limit to bowl the 20 overs; there is a need for players to be at the boundry rather than the dressing room, etc. they actually ahve less impact on the game per-se and are good for the viwers. before the tv and paid era teams used to bowl 15 overs of pace per hour ; now we are lucky to get 10 , without the coaxing rules ...
CUW
Guest
@ Harry Jones : what the powers are hopin for maybe rugger to take off in countries like BRAZIL - the final frontiers sort of . i much doubt it will though , given the popularity of footy. it will be like India - no matter how hard u try , nothing eclipses cricket , or china - where despite the attention to many games and sports , rugger remains in the shadows. one issue i have with Rio is that rugger is scheduled as one of the first games to finish off. so rather than it becoming a great atrraction could end up as a also ran in the bigger scheme of things - especially with usain bolt running his last races.
richard
Guest
Shaun,Fin- the other problem I have re NZ is that for sponsorship purposes our sevens team is referred to as the AB Sevens team.As a consequence when the NZ Sevens team is beaten,our opponents see it as a victory over the ABs when its a victory over our sevens team.For example the USA teams victories over NZ Sevens team were reported as victories over the ABs. That is the NZRU's fault,not that of other countries.But,as a kiwi,it really grates with me.Like you Fin,I am not too fussed with the result,I just don't want it reported as an AB defeat when NZ gets beaten.
TonyH
Roar Rookie
A Super Sevens tournament in Sydney or BrisVegas in mid-February, involving teams from all of the franchises, would be a terrific annual precursor to the Super Rugby season. It would serve several purposes and could become an integral part of the pre-season prepping, as well as introducing new punters to rugby (especially with free-to-air TV coverage) and unearthing potential future stars of rugby union's abbreviated version.
Machooka
Roar Guru
Oh it's definitely happy days Arthur... happy days! Besides the Olympics is a gimmick.