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.

Following the success of Murrayfield and Hong Kong attention swiftly turned to Mar del Plata, Argentina for Sevens World Cup number 3. This was not before Vernon Pugh had decided that Sevens held the key not just to involving as far as possible the nearly 100 rugby nations in international competition, but perhaps to opening the door to the Olympics.

So it was that his IRB embarked upon the 'Magnificent Sevens', the annual IRB sevens circuit of the world, that is in this year of 2009 enjoying its 10th Anniversary.

The IRB Sevens is a story for another day, an event begun in December 1999, appropriately in Dubai, where the major supporter of the Series, Emirates Airline is based. A brilliant concept, that guarantees at least 5 games to every competing nation in a two-day, four-tier competition, mixing in the pool rounds the giants of the game with the small, emerging nations. It has been an extraordinary success, most of all for the involvement it has so far provided to over 50 rugby unions and federations, giving them genuine international competition and a launch-pad for their game at home which could not be equalled in any other context. For the record that inaugural season took the 'tour' to 11 venues, from Dubai to Shanghai, from London to Brisbane, for 44 games per event ( 57 in HK ) and exposure at the top level for 31 nations. It has brought other significant advantages in its wake, not least for promising young referees the similar exposure and trialling that players enjoy, many of whom, like Craig Joubert, Nigel Owens and Wayne Barnes, have gravitated from the Sevens environment to the top of the professional 15-a-side game.

Needless to say, the IRB Sevens seasons were to have a dramatic impact on future Sevens World Cups. By 2001 the game was moving into another dimension. Player specialisation advanced, certain skills and tactics were becoming unique to the Sevens code, the emphasis on necessary player attributes quite simply different. New Zealand understood the value of Sevens and for Fiji it was their national sport, and these two ruled the roost, although all the time the playing standards of the emerging nations were being pulled upwards with them.

In Mar del Plata Jonah Lomu was back - with a vengeance! Alongside him captain Eric Rush, now 36, and a determined Cup-hunting squad with Tenana, de Goldi, Seymour and Amasio Valence. Fiji had captain Serevi, with Delasau and the Satala cousins. The four pools of six included newcomers Kenya, and Russia, Chinese Taipei, Georgia and Chile. New Zealand were coasting, only 2 tries conceded in their pool rounds, but in the last one versus England, they lost captain Rush with a broken leg. It seemed his return to Auckland (to hospital) provided that little extra bit of motivation. Other nations made their mark. Spain beat England, Portugal drew with Wales, Argentina beat Ireland, the Cook Islands beat France. But the real surprise was the fragility of joint favourites, reigning World champions Fiji, who were knocked off their pedestal by a re-invigorated Wallaby clan in which the new star was winger Ian Williams. He had already destroyed England in the quarter-final with four tries, in a 33-5 win, and produced a brilliant score that inspired his team in victory over Fiji, 22-14.

But New Zealand were focused, Tietjens in charge, Tenana replacement captain and Mils Muliaina, Brad Fleming, Rodney So'oialo, Craig Newby and Lomu on hand. Underplayed in the early rounds, it was as though Jonah had been kept in reserve for the 'crunch' games, and in particular for the Final with Australia. Then he just took things into his own hands from the first whistle, to score with his first touch of the ball after just one minute, 70 yards, an unstoppable 'man mountain'! Two more tries - he was simply an irresistible force - and the game was done, 31-12 and New Zealand had finally claimed the one elusive prize. As Jonah remarked at the end, "We did it heart and soul for Rushie, and the whole of New Zealand." As for the final, a jubilant Tietjens quipped, "That was just about Jonah versus Australia!”.

With England hamstrung by club and country wrangles; Wales, France and Ireland failing to make the last 16 and Scotland and Italy not even qualifying for the event, IRB Chairman Vernon Pugh reflected, "It's about time the leading European nations took Sevens more seriously."

I guess they may finally do so if, especially if Rugby Sevens enters the Olympic arena...