By NEALE HARVEY
PLANS to introduce an annual IPL cricketstyle franchised Sevens competition in 2018 will be a “game-changer for smaller nations,” according to former England and Fiji 7s head coach Ben Ryan.
The Rugby Paper understands proposals to develop a franchised tournament, which will work with but not rival the existing Sevens World Series, are well advanced and will initially consist of six or seven major city-based teams in Europe, with each hosting sell-out events in August.
Initially underwritten by sports marketing giants IMG for three years, teams will...