So how do the leading nations prepare for major competitions like the HSBC Sevens World Series or Commonwealth Games?

Well I think we’ve established that an incredible amount of fitness and conditioning is required. But what about match and tournament practice?

This has become an interesting topic for many coaches with plenty of discussion on what the best approaches are. 

Do you negate the risk of serious injuries by limiting yourselves to ‘scrag’ training games? Or do you venture the globe looking for tournament time?

In the next few weeks with the HSBC Sevens World Series on the horizon the likes of South Africa (Singapore CC 7s), Australia (Gold Coast International 7s) and Fiji (Sri Lanka Sevens) are just some of the nations using elite level tournaments as a vital warm-up for the Dubai Sevens (Dec 3-4).

Results are not that important here. It’s more just finding some form and putting some patterns in place against 'live' opposition.

Seasons and budgets are often how these approaches are decided. The Southern Hemisphere outfits benefit from the World Series taking place during their traditional summer sevens season.

They enjoy an influx of invites to take part in tournaments often being funded for their accommodation and expenses by the organisers.

Boks and Aussies in action

South Africa, under the guise of the SA Vipers, have won a hat-trick of titles at the iconic Singapore Cricket Club Sevens – a cracking venue that once was part of the World Series. They return next week and, like in 2009, expect a strong squad from Paul Treu’s full-timers with youngsters requiring blooding in a tournament environment.

Last year’s SSC 7s MVP was Cecil Africa, who benefited from the experience and has turned himself into a go-to man for the Boks. Treu will be hoping to avoid the injuries from these type of events that hampered his side’s Delhi preparations.

Australia enjoy having some quality international events on their doorstep– noticeably in Darwin and the Gold Coast. Farming out the ‘Aussie Spirit’ to these places is cost-effective and has aided Michael O’Connor’s team to becoming a top three side in the world.

Nations like the USA aren’t often as lucky with current budgets limiting their travel. But we saw with their participation in January’s Suva Sevens (Fiji) how useful it can be with the team kicking on in Wellington and Las Vegas in February.

A good example of the benefits of these types of tournaments for the international tournaments was displayed by England ahead of the recent Commonwealth Games. A poor second round exit at the Middlesex Sevens spelt out some limitations that needed fixing and the improvements were evident in a creditable showing in India. 

*(It will be interesting to see what happens when the UK Summer kicks in with rumours being mooted about a European Grand Prix Series).*

Different approaches

But for the World Series things are different. From November-April England prepare from the chillier climates of the UK with no tournaments to test themselves at. Coach Ben Ryan will often take his side out early ahead of WS legs to give them the best possible chance of acclimatisation.

A lack of creditable domestic events mean Delhi golf medalists New Zealand are another side who often traditionally shun tournaments outside of the Series – although a developmental team will be at the Gold Coast in a few weeks.

Instead Tietjens will also travel early and give his side a notorious ‘beasting’ in fitness. It’s a case of trusting the squad’s hugely naturally talented individuals to perform the basics and execute the game plan when it comes to the crunch.

Another way to get around this issue is to farm players out to invitational sides to keep players sharp.

The likes of Samurai International and White Hart Marauders welcomed Welsh and English players on the National Sevens Series in June and July. Samurai also took in players from Kenya, South Africa and New Zealand at the Middlesex Sevens. Events like the Hong Kong Tens will normally unveil a future Kiwi sevens star such as Kurt Baker and Sherwin Stowers who have blossomed there.

Brotherhood

One method that all the teams seem to use and agree on is structured training games (or scrimmages as Al Caravelli would say) in the week’s build-up to the main event. The brotherhood mentality is one of the unique features of sevens.

Coaches, outside of game days, enjoy healthy relationships on the circuit and often work together - especially an elite country guiding a developing nation. It also keeps the cardio ticking over, patterns to be tested and a chance for an attack or defences to be tested against a line that is unaware on what you have been working on.

Although logistically and financially it is not always feasible I would personally love to see more developmental sides hitting top-end events outside of the World Series. It will be a big commercial generator for these tournaments and a great chance for coaches to groom the heirs apparent.

---

With thanks to Jon Bolter, a pundit from the same mould as cricket’s Geoffrey Boycott, for his ever-insightful views on this subject!