Traditionally, sevens was seen as a bit of fun to wind down the season.  Now it is seen to be an extension of the season with more sevens activity taking place.

With sevens being viewed as an important stage in the development of future England Internationals with high class international competitions such as:  The International Rugby Board Sevens World Cup, the IRB World Sevens Series and the Middlesex 7''s to name a few.

It is truly an international sport with a vast global following.  The key difference of course is that there are only seven players in a team, which means more ground for each person to cover, but you also get your hands on the ball a lot more.

Thankfully, considering the pace at which the game is played, each half lasts just seven minutes with a minute''s break in between.  In sevens, there is less pushing and shoving - and more speed

There are just three people in a scrum and two or three in a lineout, whereas in the full game there can be up to eight players in each.

As a result, technical offences are less common and play is faster and freer flowing.  In addition, set pieces are a lot simpler to understand. Great if you never could get your head around all those complicated scrum laws!

With fewer players cluttering the pitch in sevens, there is plenty of space for individuals to show off their skills.  It is a game that really exploits the rugby basics - running, passing, tackling and decision-making. To be successful you need speed, skill and stamina.

Speed is probably the greatest asset in becoming a star on the sevens scene, but you cannot always rely on individual flair.  Because teams have fewer players to cover the pitch, it is important everybody works together.  Whether it is defending or attacking, teams have to be incredibly organised.

The aim is to create as much space as possible for your team-mates and to manipulate the defenders and stop them taking space.  This can be done by using footwork, such as swerves or sidesteps, to beat players in one-on-one situations. Also by running straight and passing accurately.

It is important to keep possession so you have to look after the ball well. That means working hard in the contact area.  Lose the ball in the tackle or miss a tackle - and it will probably be a try for the opposition.

You cannot rely on other people to have it covered like they might in the 15-man game.  

There is no place to hide in sevens!

So if you want to take part check out the events schedule or www.summersevens.com to find a sevens event near you.

For the full laws of the game see www.irb.com/EN/Laws+and+Regulations

If you are running a Sevens event please let us know by completing the Leisure Rugby event notification form and emailing it to: leisurerugby@therfu.com. Please click here for an explanation of the form.

PROPOSED 7s TEAM RANKING SYSTEM

As a Thank You for providing this information, we would like to offer each of you 2 free tickets to the Emirates Airline London Sevens (part of the IRB Sevens World Series) on both the 23rd and 24th May 2009, together with the opportunity to purchase discounted tickets for your Sevens teams on the 23rd or 24th May(ie. at a cost of £105 for 15 tickets, which is more than 50% off their face value).

Please return your completed proforma with your Sevens results and details of your ticket requirements, and return to the Leisure Rugby department