SCOTSMAN REPORTS

SRU confident of a big sevens turnout

Hopes high despite low-key build-up

THE GLOBAL rugby sevens circus pitches up in Edinburgh this morning for its season finale with Scotland bidding to pull off a shock and awaken more fans to rugby.



The Scottish Rugby Union won the right to host the last tournament in the series until 2011, and launched Murrayfield's involvement with a thrilling two days of action last year. In general, the sevens circuit is playing to growing crowds around the world, but that trend fell off at Twickenham last week with just 14,000 on the first day, and though that improved on Sunday it is difficult to gauge how Scots will respond.



The fanfare in the Scottish capital has been muted compared with last year's event, when the union worked hard to deflect the criticism of their decision to switch the event from Melrose's famous Greenyards ground to the national stadium. The marketing and publicity around the teams has been more low-key this time, but the SRU remain confident that decent weather today and tomorrow will attract more than the near-30,000 supporters who witnessed the inaugural event over its two days last year.



A fine display by Scotland in today's pool matches could have a significant bearing on the attendance for tomorrow's climax. The hosts have been handed a very tough section with Australia first-up this morning, and South Africa and Argentina this afternoon, their last tie, coincidentally around the time the national tour squad are leaving for Buenos Aires, being the decider deliberately set as the final game of the day in an effort to produce a similar raucous conclusion to last year.



Stephen Gemmell, the Scottish coach, said: "It's massive this weekend. Each of the tournaments is becoming really, really big. You travel to places like Dubai, Wellington and Hong Kong and each has a unique carnival, but also a very serious approach to the rugby on the pitch, which is what I expect in this finale.



"As much as it's great to see tournaments in San Diego and Adelaide helping attract people to rugby, we have to work harder to do the same thing in Scotland and attract more players and spectators. Sevens is a great way to introduce people because it is easier than 15s to understand – players run, there are big collisions, they beat men and score lots of tries; it never stops – there's always something happening.



"It's also going out on the BBC this weekend so I'll be interested to see the crowds we get. I think the 30,000 we saw last year will come back because I'm certain they will have enjoyed themselves and if the Scottish weather eases we could get more this time."



Those who do make it to Murrayfield today will undoubtedly witness some of the most exciting rugby they will have seen as great sevens exponents from Fiji, New Zealand, Samoa and South Africa, in particular, battle it out for the Edinburgh crown. The Kiwis have won the 2007-8 series, but the other three are vying for the runners-up spot, and all have been tripped up this season by lower-ranked sides.



To some, sevens remains candy-floss rugby, with no real relevance, and Melrose long ago appreciated the importance of creating an atmosphere and 'event' to make up for the fact that a lower percentage than would normally pay to watch rugby matches care about who wins in this environment.



However, Gemmell believes that not only is international sevens moving closer to the real thing it could also play a more significant role for nations to excel under the new experimental laws, designed to speed up 15s, that come into force in August.



He said: "When you watch sevens and see the way the new experimental laws are moving, the contact and movement in the game, sevens is much closer to 15s now and could produce the type of players that will excel at full international level. It's up to players to make their own decisions, but I can see some from Moldova and Spain, who qualified to come here, and from them all – Kenya, Russia, Portugal and Argentina – going on to excel in the 15-a-side game, like the many Scots who will be flying out to Argentina and Canada this weekend. But I would urge people who have never seen international sevens to come this weekend. It's the end of the season and New Zealand have already won the series, but they are coming to win again as is every other team. For a Scottish coach and player to come home and play the final leg in front of a home support is just fantastic and we know we have the ability to beat anyone this weekend."



Where the tournament may have most lasting effect is through the Festival of Rugby being staged on the back pitches. It was voted a success last year and is back with more than 122 teams from across Scotland entered for various events and a women's international sevens tournament featuring Scotland, England and Wales.

Tickets are on sale today and tomorrow at the SRU ticket office, Gate A off Roseburn Street – £15 for an adults day pass and £5 for concessions – and while the main aim of the event may be to help enhance Scotland's image as a big tournament host, the money from paying fans is what ultimately determines the value of IRB sevens in Edinburgh.

This article was posted on 31-May-2008, 07:50 by Hugh Barrow.