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.

In my previous column we looked at the successful transition of international invitational tournaments into an inaugural World Cup at a windswept Murrayfield in 1993.

Sevens love spreads

Four years later the world of Sevens had moved on, at least in Hong Kong, whose acclaimed event had become virtually an annual World Championship. England finally deigned to join the party and invitation selections, such as the Wolfhounds and Barbarians, fell by the wayside. Sevens gained in prestige and popularity with tournaments galore in Fiji and Samoa, national and provincial events in Australia at Sydney, Canberra and Brisbane, and also the new Stellenbosch 7s in South Africa.

National and major tournaments in Amsterdam, Japan and Canada were born along with Sicily, San Isidro, Dunedin, Sri Lanka and Entre Rios in Argentina and Benidorm in Spain.

As for the USA, the thrill of Sevens and its flourishing social scene saw things spread like wildfire, with as many as 100 tournaments seen. Well, it's a darn sight easier for a little local club to put together a squad of 10, or even just 7, than a side of 15 or 20! Scotland's spring and autumn circuit continued as ever, Wales spawned events from Cardiff to Cwmtawe, and Ireland , too, from Carrickfergus to Old Belvedere. Only in England did the interest seem to wane at the top level, as Cup and League fifteens became the obsession and the Middlesex event lost so much of its glamour when the tournament structure was sadly changed.

Not so in the junior ranks, as more and more clubs enjoyed the fun (and the receipts) in a myriad of local and invitation tournaments, like the London floodlit, Esher, Henley, Manchester and Caldy Sevens, not forgetting the Rosslyn Park Schools Sevens, which remains the biggest Sevens tournament in the world.

Tietjens builds his dynasty

As for New Zealand, after the early ground work of Sevens' afficionados Bryce Rope, Bill Freeman and Wayne Smith, the most significant advance there was the appointment in 1994 of Gordon Tietjens. A former player himself, he has remained master i/c of Sevens since and is surely to be judged as the most successful coach ever in the history of sport - 8 out of 9 Overall IRB Sevens World Series, World Cup and Commonwealth Games titles and 35 or so players developed in Sevens making full All Black status.

Tieitjens arrival was swiftly to bear fruit. When the second Rugby World Cup came to Hong Kong in March 1997, the soon-to-depart Governor, Chris Patten, poignantly described the game truely ‘returning to its modern home’. The determination of IRB Chairman, Vernon Pugh QC 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 Dragon Dance, parades and thousand-children displays, took the event to new heights. On the field 24 qualifying teams from an entry of 67 nations again contested the Finals with Cook Islands, Morocco, Zimbabwe and Portugal the newcomers from the worldwide qualifying rounds.

Thrilling Finale

The old order was restored, as Fiji and New Zealand raised the standard once more. No more could non-specialist players hope to triumph at Sevens. New Zealand had won all three HK titles since the first Sevens RWC, and had, in 1994, unveiled an 18-year-old player who was ultimately to become the best known rugby name on the planet. Jonah Lomu had arrived, along with Eric Rush, Glen Osborne and 20-year-old Christian Cullen. The Kiwis had been well-nigh invincible for 3 years, but winning the Hong Kong Sevens title is one thing - winning a World Champions medal is another.

This time England, based largely on their squad of 1993, were never in the hunt. The game had moved on, and all the Home Unions, packed with top XV-a-side players, were brushed aside. But the real surprise was the dismissal of the Kiwis, by South Africa, and no doubt the cruel absence of Lomu, struck down with a rare kidney disorder, took its toll. The Springboks, - with Van der Westhuizen, Skinstad, Paulse and Rossouw- crushed them 31-7 in the Semis. Fiji had been the sleeping giant of late, but as we came to know so often, any team with the little maestro Waisale Serevi at the helm, backed up by giants like Vunibaka, Tuikabe, Koroi and Bari, can only be an ever-present danger. The climax, Fiji v South Africa, was one of those unforgettable finals. South Africa went two tries up early doors and at 14-0 it seemed they were sailing home. But once in gear, it was irrepressible Fiji, swiftly and magically creating 4 tries and 24 points in a comeback that defied belief. A riposte from South Africa followed, but it was not enough, and 24-21 sent the Melrose Cup to the South Sea Islands for Sevens Heaven and a decreed National Holiday.

Watch the 1997 World Cup Final between South Africa and Fiji.