Working in rugby sevens can be a great gig really for an aspiring journo. Players and coaches are accessible and are on the whole more than willing to speak to you.

But you often don’t get an opportunity to speak to the power men from the various unions. I’m talking about the suits, the head honchos…the decision-makers.

In England one of those positions is occupied by Rob Andrew; the RFU’s Director of Elite Rugby.

An interesting behind-the-scenes media day at Twickenham last week, coinciding with the announcement of England’s squad for the Commonwealth Games, gave me a rare chance to quiz Andrew on all matters sevens.

I’m like a beaming school boy getting a mini tour around the place as we are taken inside the holy grail of ‘Changing Room 1’ (England’s facilities), pitchside, before getting some one-on-one time in the player’s tunnel with Andrew.

First things first. With sevens taking on an increased importance for nations, is there a focus on actual results now rather than just the grooming and development of a player for 15s?

“There is a performance element now. The tournaments and the World Series are big events - it’s becoming a means to an end in itself,” explains the former England fly-half.

“It’s something we are looking at the moment at. We have had sevens as a development role in the game for younger players. But because of the Olympic decision and because the International circuit looks like it is going to expand, the sevens world is changing as we speak.”

And in preparation for these changes England are evolving too. This season sees the implementation of full-time contracts for Ben Ryan’s squad.

10 of the squad now uniquely find themselves permanently contracted with England Sevens and the RFU, with no official affiliation to other clubs. Andrew is keen to point out that although the structure is a bit of a trial, it has become particularly obvious that sevens at the highest level requires specialised players.

'Looking for solutions'

“We are experimenting this season with a centrally contracted group of players who are sevens specialists. We want to see what impact this has.

“It is going to be more and more difficult to get international 15-a-side players to play 7s, you can’t do both. In physical terms and competition terms, you can’t be at two places at once. We are looking for a solution.”

The UK summer has seen sevens take on extra relevance with the inaugural running of the National Sevens Series (for elite invitational outfits) and the JP Morgan Premiership Sevens. More players are coming onto the radar and a genuine buzz generated by the new landscape of the sport has been noticeable.

It is something Andrew is well aware of.

“It’s all a sign where sevens is moving. And it is on everyone’s agenda. It’s great for us as more people are exposed to sevens.

“With the National Sevens Series and Premiership Series, Ben Ryan is getting a chance to look at players he hasn’t seen before who maybe view themselves as career sevens players. I think that’s what the biggest shift will be as players regard themselves as professional sevens players.”

It might not have always been a predictable and easy journey, but Ben Gollings has set the pathway for what can be achieved by focusing primarily on the abbreviated code. The next generation of this type of player are now sought after. They might be fairly unheralded and unsung heroes at the moment but a good tournament in India and starring roles in the 09/10 IRB Sevens World Series could dramatically change all that.

“Traditionally we have always looked at the 15s players who can play sevens. But now it’s more looking at the sevens player who is just a sevens player. And if you look at the squad heading to the Commonwealth Games, that is pretty much what this squad is.”

And what about at a grassroots level. What else is being done?

“There is a whole host of things that will develop and we will look at. Like young players who have just come out of school or who have come out of other sports even. It’s very early days yet.”