Lead columnist and ‘The Voice of Sevens’ Nigel Starmer-Smith gives his regular thoughts on the elite global game. As part of UR7s' World Cup build up Nigel presents an exclusive four-part feature on the previous RWC Sevens.

There are times when you have to thank the Scots! In this instance twice over. 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 of the early 1970s who came up with the appropriate and bold idea. Some 88 years on from that first Melrose tournament, included within their Union's centenary celebrations, came an invitation International Sevens tournament at Murrayfield in 1973.

I don't doubt that thoughts of the success of the occasion - an eye-opener to many - lingered long in the minds of many a rugby union committee man in subsequent years. Clearly the IRB saw the potential for the involvement of emerging rugby nations, many of them new members of the IRB and lacking international exposure, in a tournament in which they could meaningfully compete alongside the established powerful nations. Sevens was to prove the answer. It now represents the most exciting path to follow for the good of the future of rugby for most of the rugby-playing world.

Dubai and Hong Kong host International sevens

Sevens had initially been a regular on the Borders circuit of ‘The Sports’, so-called because other athletic events were included alongside in the annual sports days of Scottish border towns and villages. South of Hadrian’s Wall, Percy Park and North Shields, then later Caldy and Manchester staged popular events; in Wales, the Snelling and Cardiff tournaments gained status; and in the South of England, from 1926 the Middlesex Sevens gained such prestige as a spectacle on the last day of the season that tickets became harder to come to come by than for Home Internationals – with crowds of 65,000 in the 60s and 70s.

But it was the bright rugby sparks amongst the rugby expats in Dubai in 1970 and Hong Kong in 1976 who recognised the potential and entertainment value of the sport as an international competition.

Beyond these and a few other outposts there was little advance for Sevens, largely ignored by the major national rugby unions - and sadly remains of that apathy are still around today. It is a stance that is hard to understand, or should one surmise that committee men, who owe their status and loyalty to the pre-eminence of the XV-side game see rugby sevens, and its development potential, as some kind of threat?

Based on the expat model from Dubai and Hong Kong, the Scottish Rugby Union also saw some potential in the International Sevens model – and for that they must be credited. So 36 years ago, as part of the Scottish Centenary initiative, invitations to Murrayfield were extended to the 'Big 8' unions, with South Africa represented by Ellis, Carlson and Greyling in a President's Seven.

England gatecrashed the celebrations, and pulled off an unheralded victory, under the captaincy of Fran Cotton, later to become known rather better as a lions prop rather than as a sevens expert! But with Andy Ripley, David Duckham, Peter Rossborough alongside and his fellow Loughborough students Keith Fielding, Lohn Gray and Steve Smith, it was a squad which had gained some Sevens expertise in the end of season events.

Sevens opens its arms

It was to be twenty years before anything like it was to happen again. But somewhere along the way there came the realisation that the governing body, the IRB, had a duty to involve and help to develop the rugby of the new member unions – and that a return for the sport to the Olympic fold would be of immense benefit to the growth of the game. While the arrival of the first 16-nation XVs World Cup speaheaded the key developments of the late 20th century, to incorporate the wider world in true international competition the answer was to be found in Sevens.

Sevens has so many advantages: it is easy to learn, to follow and to organise, requires fewer players and less technical expertise – and such factors were to entice many new 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, Sri Lanka and many others had all become a part of the brilliant, always exciting spectacle.

No-one could really have envisaged more than a few nations developing to the extent of being truly competitive against the resources, playing numbers and professionalism of a New Zealand, England or South Africa. Sevens could provide a short-cut. It was with this in mind that the IRB, thanks to the vision of their chairman, Vernon Pugh, embarked upon a first Rugby World Cup Sevens at Murrayfield in April 1993, appropriately to be played for the Melrose Cup.

Twenty-eight nations entered the qualifying rounds, four to go through to join the other invited twenty countries for the ‘Finals’. The world came to Catania, Sicily, in a passionate, colourful affair, and Taiwan, Namibia , Spain and Hong Kong were the successful qualifiers. A separate mini-tournament was also held in Moscow, for although the Soviet Union had originally been an invited team, that Empire had subsequently collapsed and the new, former 'satellite' nations, demanded their own qualifying event. Latvia, in their first-ever sporting event and amidst scenes of unbounded joy, overcame the likes of Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Russia in the final, to claim the last place in Edinburgh.

Auld enemy stun Murrayfield

So to Murrayfield came players of great renown in the fifteens' game: Cabannes and Bernat-Salles of France, Howley and Neil Jenkins from Wales, Lynagh and Campese of the Wallabies, and Springboks Johann Van der Westhuizen and Chester Williams. But New Zealand looked best-placed, with their established Sevens' elite, with Eric Rush , Dallas Seymour and Glen Osborne on board. But with Samoa having already upset the form book by winning in Hong Kong the previous month, it was no surprise that there were further upsets in store. Against all expectations, New Zealand, having thrashed Australia,fell to France. South Africa lost to both Australia and England. Inexperienced Ireland - with Elwood, Johns and Mick Galwey included - were shock semi-finalists and were only denied a Final place by a last-second try for Australia by Ofahengaue and a Lynagh conversion - 19 points to 21.

England had selected well and, despite only meeting up for 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’ and captain Andy Harriman. The skipper, scorer of 12 tries, was the key to England's triumph. In the semi-final Fiji, with Serevi, Rasari, Rauluni, Rabaka and co, were stunned by tries from both Harriman (2), and Dallaglio, all converted by Nick Beal.

The Final was a thriller - a brilliant opening try once again by Harriman set the tone. Australia, always behind, mounted a dramatic late recovery, but could not quite deny England, who won 21-17.It was not what Scotland, nor anyone else for that matter had expected or wanted. But 20 years on from 1973 it was a remarkable double.

Watch the last few moments of the final and classic celebrations from Chris Sheasby, Andrew Harriman et al.