Sevens explosion: RWC Sevens history Pt 1
By Nigel Starmer-Smith
In part one of Rugby World Cup Sevens history, TV commentator Nigel Starmer-Smith reflects on the game's beginnings and the first two tournaments in 1993 and 1997.
There are times when you have to thank the Scots. In this instance, twice. Not just because of the inspiration of Melrose assistant butcher Adam 'Ned' Haig in his innovation of the shortened game of rugby known as Sevens, but also, I doff my cap to the Scottish Rugby Union, who came up with the appropriate and bold idea some 88 years on from that first Melrose tournament to include an invitation International Sevens tournament in their union's centenary celebrations at Murrayfield in 1973.
The IRB saw the potential for the involvement of emerging rugby nations, many of them new members and lacking international exposure. Sevens was to prove the answer, a sport that now represents the most exciting path forward for the good of the future of rugby for most of the rugby-playing world.
Globally competitive
Sevens has so many advantages: it is easy to learn, follow and organise and it requires fewer players and less technical knowledge. These factors were to entice many nations to set up domestic tournaments. Many were soon gravitating to Hong Kong to compete at an international level. By 1987, Spain, the Netherlands, USA, Chinese Taipei, Canada, Fiji, Japan and Sri Lanka and many others had all become a part of the brilliant, always exciting spectacle.
At the Olympics, the logistical difficulties in staging a 15-a-side tournament were insurmountable, but Sevens - played over just two or three days - make a perfect fit, as we have subsequently seen in World Cups and many multi-sport Games such as the Commonwealth, Asian, African and World Games, and will see again soon at the Pan-American Games.
Nor, in half a lifetime, could one envisage more than a few nations developing in 15s to be able to take on the resources, playing numbers and professionalism of a New Zealand, England or South Africa. Sevens could provide a short-cut.
It was with all this in mind that the IRB, thanks to the vision of its chairman, the late Vernon Pugh, embarked on a first Rugby World Cup Sevens at Murrayfield in April 1993 for the Melrose Cup. Twenty-eight nations entered the qualifying rounds across Sicily, Taiwan, Namibia, Spain, Hong Kong and Moscow, and four teams joined the invited 20 countries for the finals.
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1993: A World first
So to Murrayfield came players of great renown in the 15-a-side game: Cabannes and Bernat-Salles of France; Howley and Neil Jenkins from Wales; Lynagh and Campese of the Wallabies; and Springboks Joost Van der Westhuizen and Chester Williams. But New Zealand looked best-placed, with their established Sevens elite of Eric Rush, Dallas Seymour and Glen Osborne on board. However, with Samoa having already upset the form book by winning in Hong Kong the previous month, it was no surprise there were further upsets in store.
Against all expectations, having defeated Australia, New Zealand fell to France, South Africa lost to both Australia and England, and inexperienced Ireland - with Elwood, Johns and Mick Galwey - were shock semi finalists, only denied a place in the final by a last-second try for Australia by Ofahengaue and Lynagh's conversion for a 21-19 victory.
England had selected well and despite meeting up for only one brief get-together in preparation had some genuine Sevens' experience at the heart of the team. Scrum half Dave Scully of Wakefield was an inspired choice, alongside Dallaglio, Sheasby, Rodber and Cassell up front, and Adebayo, Beal and the prince of pace Andrew Harriman outside. After overcomiong a Fiji side boasting Serevi, Rasari, Rauluni, Rabaka, it again proved a winning formula in the final against Australia, with tries from Harriman (2) and Dallaglio steering them to a 21-17 win.
1997: Return to the modern home
Four years later the world of Sevens had moved on - at least in Hong Kong, where the acclaimed event had become virtually an annual world championship.
When the second Rugby World Cup came to Hong Kong in March 1997, soon-to-depart Governor Chris Patten said it was as if the game was returning to its modern home. The determination of Pugh to put Sevens on the world map was again proved fully justified as all the elements came together for another wonderful rugby celebration.
The traditional atmosphere, the familiar clockwork precision of the organisation, the spectacular interval entertainment with the Dragon Dance, parades and thousands of children took the event to new heights. So, too, on the field, as 24 teams from an enlarged entry of 67 nations contested the finals, with the Cook Islands, Morocco, Zimbabwe and Portugal newcomers.
The old order was restored, though, as Fiji and New Zealand raised the standard once again. No more could non-specialist players hope to triumph at Sevens. New Zealand, who had won all three HK titles since the first RWC Sevens, had appointed Gordon Tietjens as their coach - he is still there today and must surely be seen as the greatest ever coach in sport - and had unveiled an 18-year-old who was ultimately to become the best-known rugby name on the planet. Jonah Lomu had arrived, and with him Eric Rush, Glen Osborne and 20-year-old Christian Cullen. The Kiwis looked invincible.
But winning the Hong Kong Sevens title is one thing; winning a world champions medal another. This time England, comprised largely of their squad from 1993, were never in the hunt. The game had moved on and all the home unions, packed with top 15-a-side players, were brushed aside. But the real surprise was the dismissal of the favourites by South Africa. No doubt the absence of Lomu, struck down with a rare kidney disorder, took its toll as the Springboks, with van der Westhuizen, Skinstad, Paulse and Rossouw in full flight, crushed them 31-7 in the semis.
Fiji had been the sleeping giant of late but any team with the little maestro Waisale Serevi at the helm, backed up by giants like Vunibaka, Tuikabe, Koroi and Bari, could only be an ever-present danger. The final was one of those unforgettable matches. South Africa scored two early tries to be 14-0 up and sailing home. Or so it seemed. Once in gear, it was Fiji who were irrepressible, swiftly, magically creating four tries and 24 points in a stunning comeback. A riposte from South Africa, but not enough, and a 24-21 scoreline sent the Melrose Cup to the South Sea Islands for Sevens Heaven and a decreed national holiday.
Nigel Starmer-Smith will be commentating for TV this weekend in Dubai and his history of the Rugby World Cup Sevens continues this week on RWCSevens.com