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The summer 7s season in Europe traditionally meant some downtime for players after the completion of the IRB World Sevens Series but this year sees the expansion and growth of the FIRA Grand Prix of 7s. The series takes in 4 stops across the summer including Moscow, Bucharest and Barcelona and it kicks off this weekend in Lyon.

The series is set to be broadcast on Eurosport (British Eurosport 2 1900hrs GMT) which shows once again how 7s is becoming a more commercially viable product for partners, unions and broadcasters alike which can only benefit the game on the field.

The series brings together the best 12 european national sides in the continent including IRB core sides Wales, England and France whilst also including IRB invitees Portugal, Spain and Russia. The quality of the rugby will be second to none with it being comfortably the highest quality of 7s seen in a series this summer with England, Wales and France including many of their IRB players in their squads throughout the summer whilst trying out some younger players with eyes for the future with the World Series due to restart in 4 monthes.

Last season the UK was excited to see many of the Welsh and English IRB stars performing at the National Sevens Series but this year it is international honours that call.

With 42 matches across the weekend, the 12 teams have been placed into 2 groups of 6 with each side playing the 5 group games followed by semi-finals and finals. 

Interestingly a month ago, many would of placed England as favorites for the FIRA GP Series but after poor showings at London and Murrayfield the heat is on for an underfire English side that will feel like they have something to prove. On the other hand Wales and France performed above expectations at the 2 final tournaments stop on the World Series and actually played one another in the quarter-finals of both tournaments with the Welsh coming out victorious, the first of these being in extra-time. France & Wales will also be bouyed by victory over England in May.

Whilst the majority of eyes will be rightly on the core sides from the World Series, sides such as Russia, Portugal and Spain must not be overlooked. Spain defeated England in the final of the Bury St. Edmunds International 7s in the lead up to London and will be confident going into Lyon that they can cause some more upsets. Portugal are the reigning champions over Europe following victory in 2010 and Russia have proven on a number of occassions over the past 2 seasons that they are an ever growing 7s nation that is not to be underestimated. 

The inclusion of the major 7s playing nations of Europe (except Scotland) will guarantee that this weekend's tournament is one not to be missed where some of your favorite players of the past and players that you will see more of in the future will be ripping up the fields of the Vuillermet stadium