Six Nations Rugby is considering the introduction of a parallel Sevens tournament in the run up to the 2016 Olympics according to weekend media reports.
Tournament organisers have had a busy time since Wales lifted the Championship two weeks ago as changes have also been announced to the Women’s tournament for next year with Ireland joining England and France in a top division with home and away matches.
The Sevens tournament would need to fit into a busy schedule of nine international tournaments currently part of the HSBC sevens which runs from October to May and includes the massively popular Hong Kong Sevens tournament (pictured).
It is further complicated by the fact that England, Scotland, Wales and perhaps some Norther Ireland players will compete in Rio as Team GB.
It is inevitable though that the sport will gain a major lift from inclusion on the Olympic programme and the move by Six Nations Rugby has much to commend it in terms of maintaining that competition’s premier standing in world rugby.
The move poses a problem, or perhaps an opportunity, for Irish rugby which has fully committed to the Women’s Sevens game but has never done likewise in the men’s game.
A six nations tournament without Ireland would be a major blow and it is likely that much thought will have to go into the establishment of a full Sevens structure here, probably sooner than might have been anticipated.
Most international standard players play separately to the 15 a side game so it is probable there would be no cross over and it may be that like the Women’s and U20 tournaments, that a sevens series would be added to the same schedule as the main tournament and contribute to the Six Nations Festival that has taken shape over recent years.
The Irish Women’s team won the Bowl tournament at last week’s Hong Kong Sevens and are collected more silverware at the weekend winning the Plate event in an international tournament organised by the IRB in China.
Sponsors like Quantas, Vodafone and Emirates adorned the shirts of other teams but the Irish one remains clear for a potential partner to step up in a sport which is growing rapidly, where Ireland is competing well in the Women’s game and where it may well have to very quickly on the men’s side as well.
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