So the first National Sevens Series is all over.

After six weeks of drama Samurai took the title by the smallest of margins, by effectively three scores and a conversion. It's seems a fitting end to the Series.

At the final leg in Newquay, I was struck by how much the rugby had improved. What was on the field in Cornwall was a stark contrast to that was on display in London and that can only be good.

As I did before the IRB Series last year, here are my “7 thoughts on the National Series”.

1. Squad consistency worked. Now take it to the next level.

I loved what the National Series did with regards to registration, squad announcements, squad number limitations etc. Watching the rugby this showed that consistency in player selection for teams was beneficial for players and spectators alike. But here is my beef. If one of the top three sides can do it with around 16 players across the Series and another of the sides can do it with about 19 players, why did Samurai International have to do it with over 30?

It was very strange to me to see certain Samurai players hugging one another after the final in Newquay, when they had not been involved before that day. Their only involvement in the series was to lose in a semi-final. Dacey, Griffiths, Bright, Wiley, Jones, deserved their celebrations. Now go and find 7-12 more lads of your standard and come back as a squad similar to that of the Wailers in consistency next year and the series will be all the better for it.

2. England's loss is Wales' gain.

I remember a young Tom Williams (of Bloodgate fame) not getting in his Berkshire U-16 side. This meant he was not able to have a chance of playing for England in that age-group. What did he do? He went to Wales, had a trial, got in the side and scored two for the reds in a match winning display against the English.

I am told that across the National Series over 30% of the registered players were from Wales. These players were not also-rans either. Granted, six lads who played in NS are in Ben Ryan's England training squad, but by being at events and seeing teams up close, Paul John has been able to see players who could make an impact at World Series level.

It has been a fantastic development tool and platform for these boys to play on. Players such as Trowbridge, Walker, Broad, Jones, Rees, Lewis, Cuthbert & Evans have benefitted far more than any of the England boys, bar Mantella. If England bought into the Series and had made their current squad available they would have hit the ground running last week when started training and given match practice before Middlesex.

3. Ricky Thomas should be playing for Wales.

This links nicely to my next point. Robin Heymann put Thomas in his Team of the Series and I couldn't agree more. Even when Olorun were at their worst (West Country!) Thomas continued to look like a star with his quick feet and razor sharp thinking.

He has scored some great tries from the middle of the park. He might not be electrically quick but put a big man on the inside line or a flying winger on the outside of him and Wales will score for fun in the group stages of World Series games. He needs to bring his re-start up to the level of a Rhys Jones but this can be worked on. Give this guy a chance and he will surprise people.

4. It is a crime that more people did not see the quality rugby on display.

It strikes me that the tournaments must not have done enough to advertise the National Series in their regions. Small crowd numbers doesn’t do the Series justice. I assume that the National Series is the same as the World Series in that the IRB leaves it to the individual tournaments to sell tickets and drive people through the gates. As with the IRB, it's the National Series responsibility to get the rugby on television but it's has to come from the tournaments to get bums on seats. They know their market, they NEED to be selling from today.

The way they sell tickets in the USA is a phenomenon. In Baseball they have 81 home games, unless they come up with new sales ideas they would have empty stadiums. Here's one that would work with the rugby public - all you can eat and drink areas for certain times during the day. A spectator buys a ticket for the rugby and say 3 times during the day, they have access in a certain area for 2 hours to unlimited food + drink. Each tournament could comfortably sell 300-500 of these tickets for £50-£75 a pop. Have the area at one of the ends of the grounds and create the 'South Stand' atmosphere. Get a beer sponsor from the local area - how does the 'Rattler Zone' sound?!

5. Parity is not far away, the top 4 will have new entrants next year

Samurai and the Army were the best sides this year - but not by much. There is the chance of parity across the Series. The top two were level on tournament points and were only split by points difference with the Wailers and Marauders finishing level in third. The rest of the teams had their moments but sometimes lacked a bit of composure. Ronin proved to be the only real weak link and I say this as they did not beat one of the other core sides with their two wins coming against guest teams. The mid-table teams were star-struck by the step up at the first two legs of the Series, once they had overcome this though the rugby began to flow. The stats don't lie either as all the core sides won a group this season apart from Apache and Ronin.

6. Poise and patience are key

The biggest difference between the top two and everyone else is probably belief, confidence/arrogance and the ability to perform under pressure. Using the games against the Smurfs in Newquay as an example there was an air of inevitability about it. You just knew that the big two would score in the last play to go through. The Wailers have the talent but lost out in every semi-final. There is a common theme here! It reminds me of the early days of the World Series where New Zealand and Fiji would be up against it but each and every time would find a way to win at the end of games. This was put down to greats such as Serevi and Rush but there is also an element of the opposition not believing.

I bet once the other teams takes a tournament win by luck or skill the era of parity will begin akin to the World Series where now South Africa and Samoa have broken the grip of NZ and Fiji.

7. Teams need not go into hiding over the winter

If possible the core sides need to get out around the world and dominate tournaments abroad. You are your brand and it needs to be lived and breathed. The teams need to know they are representing the Series and with that sevens in England. Sell shirts and kit online, get local press involved, run your team as a professional unit at all times and win rugby tournaments. The winter can be a slow time but it doesn't need to be. If in doubt just take a look at my schedule this winter. I will be seeing players from all over the world in exotic places playing the game we love. Sponsors love a global proposition and this is something the teams must realise. I would love to see all the sides have a minimum of one tournament victory abroad.

I’m due a break. But before I jet off on my hols with Val (my wife) I have one more blog in me. And that is to address the debacle that is the 'Premiership Sevens Series’.

For now, keep it 7s

JB