Sevens has a long term future. I don’t think that 15s does. The international sevens are embraced by the different unions to various extents. In Ireland they sacrificed the women’s 15s game for the 7s as they thought it was more likely to bear fruits sooner (the men’s international 15 team pays for absolutely everything so they didn’t do it to them though they did lose one of the very best players for the business end of the club season and internationals so that he could play 7s in the Olympics. Not that it mattered.)
Not only is it an Olympic sport but 7s also hosts tournaments in the sports washing states and I think is heavily sponsored by them.
It’s more enjoyable for the average spectator and it’s significantly less dangerous. It’s not too far off tag and touch which you can play as a normal human being without fear of death or permanent disability.
I say this as an adult convert to watching rugby 15s. I think it’s an amazing game (there wasn’t any around when I was a kid so I never played it not that I would have been any good at any position) but I just don’t think it’s a reasonable thing to play and I wouldn’t encourage a child of mine to play it.
