Why Rugby Sevens at the Rio Olympics won't need George North and Co. in order to be special

So, International Rugby Board boss Brett Gosper is turning up the heat to make sure Unions release their big-name players for the Sevens at the Rio Olympic Games.

He has a point - but only up to a point. While it would, arguably, make box office and PR sense to have rugby's biggest names representing their countries at Sevens at the Olympics, let's remember these guys are specialists of the 15-a-side game - a very different kettle of fish to the seven-minute halves of Sevens.

There are centrally-contracted players who tour the globe playing Sevens for their countries for a living. They have a specific skill-set and a specific training regime.

To parachute in big names at their expense would be an insult - to Sevens players, to spectators, and to the game itself.

And given the compelling drama and top-notch skills on display at the Commonwealth Games Sevens at the weekend, do we really need to have the big-name 'star dust' sprinkled on the Olympics?

No, we don't. Sevens is an attractive enough proposition without the need for Chris Ashton, Sonny Bill Williams or George North to temporarily take up the game.

Let's make sure the stars of Sevens shine for themselves - and aren't artificially eclipsed by their better-known 15-a-side peers.

Can the boardroom and the boot-room mix?

Is a rugby club in danger of becoming an autocratic place when the chairman decides to put the word 'executive' in front of his title? Following the management changes at Bath Rugby, here are a few thoughts from my column in the Bath Chronicle.

Bath Rugby deal with Dyson is far from hot air

Unlike overseas sides, it's rare for top-flight English rugby clubs to have a recognised global brand as a sponsor. For example, while Toulon have Volkswagen, Gloucester have ADEY MagnaClean.

So Bath Rugby's deal with Dyson is notable. I explain here why this partnership is not your ordinary, common-or-garden commercial deal, and why it could change the face of rugby in the West Country.