Since its launch in 2002, the FIRA European Sevens circuit has gone from strength to strength and, in taking the title on home soil in the sixth edition, Russia proved that the competitiveness being seen on a global scale in the IRB Sevens World Series is also very much in evidence at a regional level.
Under new coach, Frenchman Claude Saurel, the Russians won all seven of their matches, twice beating France en route to claiming the title.
"We're happy here. The Russians are very happy because they've won a tournament that they set their sights on winning," Saurel told Total Rugby.
IRB Regional Development Manager for Europe, Michel Arpaillange, was Tournament Director in Moscow and he too could see the tangible benefits from Russia winning on home soil.
"The defending champions Portugal didn't qualify for the final tournament, which was a shame, but it was a great opportunity for Russia as the home side to win and show their public that the sport is getting bigger and bigger there, " he said.
Saurel does still have a mountain to climb if he is to satisfy the expectations of his employers at the Russian union and qualify for the 2009 Rugby World Cup Sevens in Dubai. However, his former exploits go to prove that he has the pedigree and acumen to succeed.
Having taken Morocco's rugby to new heights in the early 1990s, Saurel guided Georgia to the fifteen-a-side Rugby World Cup in 2003 before turning his attention to Tunisia.
Although a talented crop of players, the North Africans were limited in both experience and tactical know-how, but Saurel moulded them into a Sevens side that went on to qualify for the World Cup in Hong Kong in 2005, beating South Africa on day one, and produce consistently strong performances in the IRB Sevens World Series.
"All I'm trying to do is show that, wherever you go in the world, there are talented rugby players who want to work really hard to become as good as they can," he said.
"I just want to prove that talent exists everywhere, and that more still needs to be done to develop our global game of rugby."
Developing the game
Arpaillange is also in constant contact with the region's so-called minnow nations and takes huge positives from the performances of the likes of Moldova, who finished third in Moscow.
With developing nations able to be competitive far quicker in the Sevens code, the sport can play a key role in their ability to build for the long term, while at the same time enjoying short term success.
"It's important for the development of European rugby that we get the big rugby nations competing with the smaller nations so to see France in Moscow, albeit with a young side, to see Italy in Moscow, is very positive," Arpaillange said.
"Next year the tournament will also be the qualifying event for the 2009 Rugby World Cup Sevens in Dubai so I hope that we'll see Ireland, Wales and other countries like that competing on this stage because for the picture of rugby all over Europe it's very important."
The possibility of the code being exposed on the biggest sporting arena of them all, though, remains the ultimate driving force for many.
"There is a huge motivating factor for the countries competing - and particularly the Eastern European countries - in that rugby sevens might get back into the Olympic Games at some time in the future. With that in mind they want to improve their playing standards all the time and are always very keen to play in these events."
