they banned me from playing

You'll also find that the Rugby Sevens competition has far more in common with rugby league than you'd imagine.

You'll also find that the word "union" tends to be missed from the "Rugby Sevens" banner.

Put simply its bare bones rugby, the sort of plays that are common in both codes, yes there are line-outs to restart after the ball goes into touch but they are simple affairs with two or three players involved and are very quickly taken, more like a throw-in at football.

There is no play-the-ball but that is mainly because a player who has been tackled simply releases the ball immediately, there could be rucks but they rarely form simply because there are not enough bodies and no team wants to commit four players to a ruck leaving only three dangerously exposed - you find that tackles are made and the ball is away far quicker than either "normal" code achieves.

All in all its an entertaining game to watch and should not be compared to either code, its a code on its own.

That is almost entirely correct.

Plus, the fact that the game is primarily the bare bones of both codes, running with the ball, passing and tackling means that League players are ideally suited, as evidenced by the wins at Twickers by Wigan and Bradford. So surely we can expect some high profile RL stars to be picked in the GB squad.

however it will get a lot of exposure, it will help make stars of its players, it will get publicity for the players teams.

It will be extremely short sighted if RL does not look to have some impact.

can you imagine the news stories, Britain through to semi finals after Bath player x scores A try and Leicester player scores a DG.

It would be sad to see Gb win gold medal with a team made up of Wasps, sale, Bristol players. they then go on to feature in advertising, come and see the Rugby Sevens winners before a RU international game etc.

It would be much better if the news is about x from Wigan or St helens become the news story and the poster boys.

With nregard to rugby league players being involved, I doubt any rugby league coaches would be happy if they did as the Olympics take place during the season.

What's going to happen when the rugby union players are knocking bells out of each other weeks or even days before they start the season with their well paying clubs?

I've always thought the Olympics should be the pinnacle of your sport. Tennis, basketball and football are three sports which shouldn't be there.

A number of leading golfers have already said they wouldn't take part if it disrupted their preparation for an important tournament. Isn't the PGA Championship in August?
It's going to be a joke with the leading golfers absent.

No-one gives a rat's ass about these "peripheral" sports in the Olympics. Track and Field are the big draws. The Rugby Seven's will be over in a flash and quickly forgotten.

Go give your head a shake.

The olympics will be the BIGGEST sporting event EVER to take place in England.

There will be wall to wall coverageof all events on UK tv.
The news will all be about the olympics other than a major news event will anything else get mentioned.

The olympic sports will be in packed out stadiums.

There will be two or three days of the Sevens probably taking place in a full TWICKENHAM.

The successful teams will be all over the media.

TV will broadcast every match live because it is fast , exciting and people will want to watch it.

The people who are running it, playing it ie the RFU will milk it for everything they can get.

When it is over the winners possibly Britain will use it for advertising it would be a perfect set up for them to advertise their 15 a side brand.

Johhny Wilkinson is still the most famous rugby player in England was he the best, was he good, is a legend NO. It is because of one bloody drop goal .

I would be happier and RL would benefit if they were saying and the Olympic gold medal was won by Wigan Warriors Sam Tompkins or warringtons Richie Myler.

That is called advertising or thinking ahead not your insular ooh we are the better game small minded attitude.

Durham Giant, rugby (union) only comes into the olympics in 2016. That's Brazil, not the UK.

Except Londons 2012 and this starts '16 doesnt it?

Give his head a shake will you

Change the country and swap the maracana for Twickenham and the principal is still there.