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.

This will be the last instalment of my World Cup Sevens history and it’s been fantastic being able to reminisce on some great memories this wonderful sport has thrown up.

So onto the most recent World Cup Sevens, and the return to a favourite haunt and Sevens home, Hong Kong in March 2005. The intervening years had seen yet further expansion and new powers on the IRB sevens circuit, as the clamour grew for participation from across the globe, with over 50 participants in '02 and '03. Australia, under Richard Graham won three tournaments in 2002 and then England came of age at last, under the brilliant direction of Joe Lydon. They won the first time the 'Blue Riband' event of Hong Kong that same season, and after won there three years off the reel. New specialists sevens experts emerged, none finer than in the England squad of those years, the diminutive, but dynamic duo of Simon Amor and Ben Gollings.

Argentina stepped up to the 'top table' with the Gomez Cora brothers, winning their first title in Los Angeles 2004. But New Zealand kept just ahead of the chasing pack as only Fiji slipped back in the rankings, beset mostly by unavailability of their overseas players and coaching uncertainties. With the prospects for success more wide open than ever, the 2005 tournament was to provide the greatest of them all.

Eighty-two nations entered the extended qualifying rounds, with Uruguay and Tunisia through for the first-time. Tickets for the finals became as gold dust and television coverage was beamed to more than 100 countries, most of it live. New Zealand, having won the overall crown for all five seasons of the IRB Sevens and winners of the three tournaments, George, Wellington and Los Angeles, prior to the World Cup, were clear favourites to win again.

Fiji, by contrast were out of sorts, temperamental, lambasted and under unparalleled pressure from home for long-awaited success (their last tournament title had been in George 2002) and Serevi was now 37. There was Samoa, 3 times finalists but yet to win a title, Argentina, that one success, but few signs of a repeat, and South Africa, a more hopeful prospect with recent wins in Singapore and Dubai. As for England well they were back to their favourite venue and had Mike Friday continuing the good work of Lydon. They were now a well-honed specialist outfit with Amor and Gollings supported by Rob Thirlby, Geoff Appleford, Henry Paul, Tony Roques, Phil Dowson, Pat Sanderson, Ugo Monye, Richard Haughton, Peter Richards and Neil Starling - all-in-all England's best-ever line-up.

But maybe it was all pre-ordained. For few could have scripted this fairytale better as the final tribute to the greatest player of all-time. In the wake of repeated failures Fiji had finally, after protracted domestic conflicts, brought in Wayne Pivac as new coach, and he promptly recalled Serevi to run the show with him and recall the lost talent of former Sevens stars playing abroad. The line-up was mighty as Bobo, two Satalas, and Delasau joined up with Vunibaka, Roko, Nanuku, Rawaqa, and Daunivucu- and a virtual unknown, 22-year-old William Ryder - a player destined to bewitch, bedazzle and bemuse opponents and crowds the world over from this debut to his all-too-soon departure from the scene just two years later.

All the usual suspects made it to the quarter-finals, but not before Tunisia had beaten South Africa, even with their whirlwind duo of Stefan Basson and the brilliant Fabien Juries - and France had beaten England, whilst Tonga came close to an all-time upset, getting to within one score of New Zealand. New stars were unveiled - Wang Kuo Feng of Chinese Taipei, Lucas Onyango of Kenya, Tevita Tu'ifua of Tonga and Wallaby Nick Reily, and older men shone one last time, like Canada's Marco di Girolamo, Australia's Tim Clark and Samoa's David Lemi.

New Zealand, under new captain 20-year-old Liam Messam - what a talent - were first through to a semi-final, a Trans-Tasman affair with Australia. What a contest, down to the wire, four tries apiece in an amazing Wallaby comeback, but 24-20 to New Zealand in the end. The other was equally monumental and captivating in its excitement with an Amor try in the last second to level the scores at 21-all, to bring a Gollings coversion attempt from the touchline that could win it. It shaved the post the wrong side, to bring sudden-death extra-time, and an unforgettable moment of sporting drama as two of Sevens' greatest performers pitched into a decisive long chase to the corner, head to head, with Serevi casting off his years, to pip defender Gollings to score the try that put Fiji, versus New Zealand, into the Final.

The quality of performance did not ebb with the meeting of the two previous Cup winners. New Zealand were magnificent in their title defence, but not even the wiles of Amasio Valence the tireless Liam Messam, Josh Blackie and Lifeimi Mafi, nor the attacking skills of Rudi Wulf and Tanerau Latimer could tame the inspired Fijians. Here, in the limelight, on his favourite stage was the eternal master of Sevens, Waisale Serevi, brushing away the years, and as ever, no doubt drawing down help and inspiration from above, as he had so often done since he first appeared in Hong Kong some 16 years before. In a stunning display, tries by Daunivucu, Serevi himself, Naevo, Apolosi Satala, and Bobo, to one by Blackie put the South Sea Islanders into an unassailable position – well almost.

The black backlash was as inevitable as it was devastating as youngsters Toeava and Wulf ripped through the wilting defence. Two tries, but too late, at 29-19, as the crowd stood at the final whistle to honour two magnificent teams at the end of the greatest tournament. Back in the South Pacific the week-long party was soon in full swing, and as Serevi hoisted the Cup, in the hands of his young son, high above his head most people surmised that he wouldn't be going home by plane or boat, he'd simply walk there.

How swiftly the years have passed since then as we now look forward to the next World Cup, so soon upon us, from March 5th-7th. Not one sevens World Cup, but two, with the 24 nations of the Mens event to be played alongside the first Women's cup, with 16 finalists, at the fabulous new stadium in Dubai, The Sevens. Once again New Zealand are likely to enter as favourites; they've done little wrong these last couple of years, though the challengers are more than ever.

Fiji's 2005 World Cup win marked the start of their resurgence, winning the Overall IRB sevens crown in 2006 - thanks in great part to the unsurpassed brilliance of young Ryder, who scored 35 tries in his first six tournaments. But he has gone from the scene after past disciplinary troubles, perhaps difficulties handling his newfound fame. He now plays in Japan, and it seems unlikely he'll be recalled. But there 's another little magician in Emosi Vucago, talent in abundance with Lepani Nabuliwaqa and experienced others to call on, though Waisale assures me he is coach, not player, and no longer both!

New Zealand's brief spell in the wings - they failed to make a final in '05/06 - has led to a rebuild by Tietjens, and to great effect creating a side that won handsomely in the following season. The captaincy passed from Messam to Ioasa to the outstanding player of the current game, D.J.Forbes - the reigning IRB Sevens Player of the Year. Strength, power, support play, mobility, plenty of pace and exceptional fitness, as well as total commitment and team loyalty, are the defining characteristics of this current squad.

It is an immensely powerful, well-drilled outfit with players like DJ himself, Edwin Cocker, Tim Mikkelson and Solomon King up front, Lote Raikabula, in the middle, plus the guile of Tomasi Cama (the son and namesake of a legendary player in Fiji colours) and Nigel Hunt plus the pace of Zar Lawrence and Pelenise and new youngsters Tim Nanai- Williams, Nafi Tuitavake, Julian Savea and Israel Dagg. Given that list for starters, and the option for Gordon Tietjens of recalling for this event such former sevens stars as Liam Messam, Victor Vito, Anthony Tuitavake, Tamati Ellison, Roy Kinikinilau, Cory Jane, Scott Waldrom and many an All Black. It would be a brave thing to back against them!

Samoa made their breakthrough shortly after the 2005 event, winning in Wellington first and then Hong Kong in 2006. With the brilliant playmaker Uale Mai at the helm, and forward power as you'd expect with Treviranus and Tofilau, as well as the pace and penetration of Lolo Lui and Pesamino. They will be tough to beat.

Coach Ben Ryan's England squad are sure to be in contention especially if he has access to some of the players like Dave Strettle, Tom Varndell , Danny Care and Ben Foden, who, though few outsiders seem to acknowledge it, have benefited enormously from their recent time in the Sevens squad, if indeed it didn't actually kick-start or rejuvenate their career, as it did for Ugo Monye, Matt Tait, Magnus Lund, Luke Narraway, Peter Richards, Tom Rees, James Haskell, Jamie Noon and so many more. With world-class players like the all-time top points scorer in sevens Ben Gollings, and the superb Sevens soldier Isoa Damu, the England potential for success is enormous.

But the country that has lifted itself this very season into top contention is South Africa - masterminded by the guiding hand of coach Paul Treu. Little in stature, big in commitment , and well-prepared at their new base in Stellenbosch, this squad have carried off both the pre-Christmas tournaments , in Dubai and George. Even without recent leading lights, such as Danwell Demas, Fabien Juries and Jonathan Mokuena whisked away to the money of Super 14, they've outstanding performers to hand, and pace all-round in their top seven with skipper Mzwandile Stick, Ryno Benjamin, and dazzling Renfred Dazel, 20-year-old Robert Ebersohn, Frankie Horne, Gio Aplon and Philip Snyman.

Those would stand out as the obvious prime contenders, but you know Sevens - always expect the unexpected. And that could come in the shape of the exciting athletes, with ground-eating strides (and improving defence) of Kenya. It could be Argentina to upset the applecart, with brothers Pablo and Santiago Gomez Cora - like the entire squad, great competitors, in your face, terrier-like and so quick off the mark. Portugal keep on moving ahead in the rugby world and in Sevens their doubly committed squad, who play in World Cups at 15s as well as Sevens, have a terrific understanding of the art, and improve with every season.

For the same reasons Tunisia and Tonga, both ebullient and strong, are also on the list of teams to beware of. And never forget France - who took a first title when winning the Paris tournament against all the odds in 2005, when the star was an unheard of winger called Julien Malzieu. Only unavailability of players, as clubs refuse to release them, has denied them from flourishing in a game that they seem naturally so well-equipped to play. The same is true of Wales - and few realise that the confidence and enterprise of James Hook on the field these days owes much to his time, and freedom to express himself, in the Wales Sevens squad.

And if you're looking for an outsider!? They've done little since their superb challenge in 2005, I rate as a danger to all, the entirely new outfit that coach Michael O'Connor has fielded for Australia this season. Raw young recruits to the sevens game they are learning fast. So remember the names of Mowen and Betham, Dayberg, Muir, Coridas, Morahan and Kingi. Next time they might be in the headlines. My best bet as a real outsider team.

Eighty-one games await us in the men's event, and there will be a terrific welcome too I'm sure for the arrival of the Women to contest their first Sevens Rugby World Cup. Put away old prejudices and witness a game that will not disappoint - the tackles are hard, the skills impressive though the pace does not, understandably, match the Mens. The event is wide open, and having seen Women's sevens in Edinburgh, Dubai and Hong Kong in the last 12 months, it is clear that the Simon Amor-coached England squad have an outstanding chance of success as a follow-up to a narrow win over a New Zealand selection in HK, and victory in the Women's invitation tournament in Dubai. Undoubtedly the full New Zealand Black Ferns squad will be strong, already World Champions at fifteens, and amongst the favourites will be the USA, The Netherlands, France and Australia. But, at this stage, who knows, and we shall only have a clearer view when from Brazil and Uruguay from Russia to China all 16 nations take the field. An exciting new spectacle lies in store.

So, be there in Dubai, if you can, for the two World Cups, or at any staging post in this IRB Sevens season, which comes to Twickenham and Murrayfield in May, follow in the UK the best-ever coverage of all the Sevens being provided now by Sky TV, and for the World cup Sevens: live and on demand over the internet or on Setanta in the UK, and keep up to date with it all on UR7s.com.

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