Harare — ZIMBABWE'S Cheetahs may still be battling to make an impact on the International Rugby Board Sevens series, but as the curtain comes down on the year, they will take comfort from the fact that they are part of a sport that is gaining global appeal, reports Petros Kausiyo.

The Cheetahs, who have also been leading the revival of the domestic game, took part in the Dubai and George tournaments, which are the opening two competitions of the IRB series.

Coach Liam Middleton and his men have, during the year that will come to an end on Thursday, taken part in a number of international competitions, including the traditional Castles Sevens in Zambia, the Mosi in Kenya and the Tuskers in Casablanca, Morocco.

But, more importantly for the Cheetahs, they seem to be improving with each outing as they seek to convince the IRB that they now have what it takes to be included in more than just two of the world body's series.

The Zimbabwe Rugby Union is also hopeful that the successes scored by the Cheetahs will have a rub-on effect in attracting more interest among players and the corporate sector for the country's flagship team -- the Sables -- in the XVs version of the sport.

Unlike the Cheetahs and the national Under-19 squad, the Sables are a caricature of a side that represented Africa at two World Cup events as the senior team has been struggling to qualify for the final of the Confederation of African Rugby's Africa Cup.

Despite being restricted to only two World Series tournaments, the Cheetahs and their tireless manager Bruce Hobson will have taken a festive season break knowing they that have been part of a sport that has made huge strides in its international appeal, according to reports by the IRB.

The international body noted that after just two events of the 2009/10 World Series, early indications are that Rugby Sevens has gained further ground in the eyes of international broadcasters.

In October, the International Olympic Committee session in Copenhagen, Denmark, voted Rugby Sevens into the Olympic Games in 2016 and 2020, with the sport set to make its much-anticipated debut in Rio.

Since then, the sport has exploded in popularity and interest and the opening two legs in Dubai and South Africa suggest that the sport will enjoy new highs both in attendance and in television viewership.

Over the course of the current season, figures for live and as-live broadcasting have far outstripped the record numbers attained for the two events in 2008.

Figures released by the IRB's broadcast management and distribution partner, Pro-Active Television, indicate that in Dubai the total number of live television hours rose from 156,5 to 188 -- a 20 percent increase.

For the second event in George, South Africa, the total number of live televised hours rocketed by 32 percent, from 115,5 last year to 152 hours.

This was largely down to the increased appetite from new broadcasters taking live pictures in the wake of the Olympic Games decision, and the global success of Rugby World Cup Sevens 2009.

"Rugby Sevens continues to go from strength to strength and now that it has received the ultimate seal of approval from the IOC, the sky is the limit. Its winning formula of non-stop, competitive action, world-class athletes and a festival atmosphere has proven a major hit again so far this season with broadcasters," said IRB chairman Bernard Lapasset.

"A lot of the best action delivered so far has come from teams representing exciting emerging markets like the USA, Russia and Kenya, who are all already more than a match for the more traditional rugby nations like New Zealand, South Africa, England and Australia. That, in turn, means that the sport is very attractive across the board."

Another major success story for the sport has been the addition of ESPN 360 as one of those new live broadcasters, taking the pictures to over 50 million houses in the USA.

The IRB Sevens World Series comprises eight tournaments in Dubai, South Africa (George), New Zealand (Wellington), the USA (Las Vegas), Australia (Adelaide), Hong Kong, England (London) and Scotland (Edinburgh).

With Sevens having been accepted as an Olympic sport, former ZRU president Hobson is eager to ensure the Cheetahs will qualify for the world's biggest sports showcase.

Hobson has also helped the Cheetahs to lure back home some of their foreign-based professionals, something that is still to happen to the Sables if they are to re-emerge as a force on the continent.