Both he and Gavin Hastings, the former captain of Scotland the British Lions, are convinced that Olympic status will serve as a catalyst to turn rugby into a truly global game and see sevens become the worlds fastest growing sport.

The sevens format has enabled nations such as Fiji, Samoa and Kenya to compete with the established giants of the 15-a-side game but the global reach has remained fairly limited.

Hastings, the former captain of Scotland and the British Lions, claimed on the eve of the International Rugby Board Sevens World Series, which starts in Dubai tomorrow, that sevens inclusion in the Olympic programme from Rio 2016 presents a unique opportunity for rugby to grow.

He said: "The fact that rugby sevens is now an Olympic sport provides an amazing platform to grow.

"It will give an opportunity for teams who have never participated in sevens before to take up the sport.

"It is an enormous decision and just watch how rugby nations will develop from nowhere over the next 20 years as a result.

"There is no question that sevens is the way to grow the game.

"Rugby will not be a truly global sport until it involves Asia, Africa and South America and sevens will be the vehicle to do that.”

Kirwan, one of the greatest players ever produced by New Zealand who scored a record 67 tries in 96 appearances and is now the coach of Japan, said: "In 25 years time sevens will be a bigger game than 15.

"It has a party atmosphere, is played at a fast pace and is easy to understand.

"I believe it will become the world's fastest growing sport.

"There is no question that Asia will be introduced to rugby through sevens and not 15's.”

Hastings said: "Sevens is bringing rugby to a new audience.

"Tournaments like the Dubai Sevens will spring up across the world and sevens players will become professionals playing for specialist franchises.

"There is an obvious comparison with what Twenty 20 format is doing for cricket.

"The crowds are getting bigger and bigger and more and more countries are becoming competitive.”

Kirwan believes that the secret of its success lies in its simplicity.

He said: "Fifteens a side is a very complicated game.

"Trying to explain the rules to a 10-year-old boy is almost impossible.

"Sevens overcomes most of the obstacles to introducing kids to the game.

"It is easier to play, easier to coach and this in turn makes it easier to introduce into schools.

"Rugby commands only a tiny fraction of the world's sporting market even though we consider it to be a major sport.

"But imagine how this will grow if sevens introduces the sport to Asia, Africa and America."


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