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IRB chief executive Mike Miller has said that the fifteen-a-side game should not feel threatened by the emergence of rugby sevens.

Speaking from the second-ever Rugby Expo conference in London, one of the sport’s most powerful figures instead claims that the growth of sevens will drive people to all forms of rugby.

“We think that as long as you get a rugby ball into someone’s hands or that they see the game in whatever form they will be hooked and will want to try the other forms as well,” Miller told BBC Sport.

“I don’t think there will be a threat I think it’s good if there is a challenge. We don’t see one competing with another we see them as complimentary.”

Miller again reinforced that Olympic status will bring a huge financial boost into the game citing Brazil, where rugby sevens will make its Olympic debut at Rio 2016, as an example of a country that has already invested heavily.

“The benefits are already being felt around the world and they come in two forms. One is money and another is access to more facilities.

“So for instance in Brazil the government has a put lot of money in, hundreds and thousands of dollars, to grow the competency of men’s and women’s rugby because they want to do well at the Games in 2016 which they are hosting.”

The IRB feel that the Olympic effect can spread rugby globally bringing floods of newcomers to the game.

“This is the platform for the game to become truly global. It’s going to have a huge impact,” added Miller.

“People who don’t usually watch the Six Nations or the Tri-Nations they will see rugby and they will be hooked. It will be great and a fantastic atmosphere there.

“There will be a lot of money put in by National Olympic Committees all over the world and by governments. I think we have a huge opportunity for rugby and we have to make sure we grasp that opportunity and grow that game around the world.”

HSBC was recently announced as the first IRB Sevens World Series title sponsor for the upcoming 2010/11 season, which kicks off in Dubai next month.

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