Rugby sevens' unpredictability is why it is so captivating, says BRIAN O'DRISCOLL as the HSBC SVNS Series takes over Madrid... but the Ireland great believes the 2024 Olympics could be the most competitive yet

Sat in an office next to the Civitas Metropolitano Stadium, the home of Atletico Madrid, Brian O'Driscoll points to his right noting the crowds of people walking past him.

'There's a lot of people over to my right here. It's where all the activities outside of the stadium are going on,' he tells Mail Sport, as the HSBC Global Brand Ambassador watches the festivities unfold.

While one-half of the city has been celebrating Real Madrid's 15th Champions League victory, there is a sport that is not normally associated with Spain or this fantastic city taking over the Spanish capital.

Last weekend, Madrid was ablaze with sevens fever, as thousands of rugby fans flocked to the 70,000-capacity arena to watch the grand finale of the HSBC SVNS Series.

'There's almost as many people out there as there are in the stadium. There's swimming pools, beach rugby, and all the food trucks and everything, all the fancy dress is going on out there. So they're definitely embracing it,' the Ireland rugby legend says.

This weekend's grand finale in Madrid brought to a close a truly enthralling series of rugby, with Maddison Levi's hat-trick against France helping Australia's women's side be crowned 2024 champions.

Meanwhile, Antoine Dupont's sensational season seems to just keep getting better, as he guided the France men's team to their first Sevens World Series win.

It was the first time the winner-takes-all event has been held in the Spanish capital and the atmosphere was electric.

Simultaneously, the tournament also featured the brand new promotion and relegation play-offs, which saw men's and women's teams from the HSBC World Rugby Challenger Series battle it out against sides finishing ninth to 12th in Madrid for a spot in next year's SVNS Series.

Giants of the men's SVNS circuit Samoa and Canada lost their places in next season's series, as Kenya and Uruguay both secured their spot in the tournament following victories against Germany and Uruguay, respectively.

In the women's play-offs, China are set to replace South Africa next year, after the former defeated Belgium 33-0 on Sunday. The hosts, Spain, claimed a huge victory over South Africa to secure their spot in next year's competition.

'I think it's brilliant that [the final] is back in a location that isn't kind of necessarily synonymous with rugby, or rugby sevens,' the former Ireland centre said.

'I think if we are genuinely looking to grow the game, you've got to find new areas of development. Give the opportunity for new eyeballs to see live rugby.'

'And then obviously, with the Challenger Series, there's jeopardy involved in the teams coming here in the hope of playing in the HSBC SVNS, versus those that have the likelihood of dropping out. I think in that, you know, there's always going to be anticipation in nearly all of the Games and so it's made for a great weekend.'

For O'Driscoll, the Challenger Series play-offs present an opportunity for nations, who haven't traditionally been able to play in the SVNS Series, the chance to test themselves against tougher opponents.

'We all know that the only way you actually get any better is about playing better teams and sometimes you feel out of your depths. But ultimately, anyone who's played sport knows that you learn most against better opposition. If you're beating the same sides week in, week out, you're playing the top of the tree and the quality isn't there. Where's the potential for growth?

'That's why the Challenger Series coming into the HSBC Series is all-important. It gives teams a chance to obviously play against sides around your level but with the opportunity to get into the SVNS series and see if you can survive it.'

He adds: 'I think this could generate interest quickly in Madrid. But I've been super impressed. The stadium is awesome. And there's so many Argentine fans here, obviously living in Spain and supporting their team. 'But it's it's just been a really good setup. So I'm excited about what kind of the future might hold in Madrid for sevens rugby.'

But all eyes will now turn to this summer's Olympics, with France looking to claim victory on home soil. That will be a hard task for both their men's and women's sides, with Argentina emerging to become a dominant force in the 2024 men's SVNS Series - while Australia and New Zealand have once again been sensational in the women's league.

'That is what we love about sevens. We don't know that any two teams can win on the day if the breaks go for you or if you happen to play really well,' the former Leinster centre tells Mail Sport.

'Sometimes it's a bounce of the ball or getting a bit of momentum and that's why we've seen series wins from Canada and Kenya - there's been so many different teams in the last few years.

'But it's less set in stone as opposed to the 15s format, where you're looking at World Cups which is kind of like an Olympics equivalent, where teams like New Zealand and South Africa dominate.

'Geniunely [on the SVNS Series] you could have 10 winners. You could probably have more!'

Having seen events unfold in Madrid, there's no doubt that rugby sevens at this summer's Games offers to be one of the most eye-catching events on the card.

While Fiji will be favourites to win their third consecutive gold medal in the men's event, teams like Ireland, Argentina and France are emerging as real contenders to win the men's event in Paris.

'Ireland are definitely in that conversation for sure. France are the other team I'm looking forward to seeing because of the transfer of Antoine Dupont to France. The host nation. The disappointment of the 15s World Cup - everyone felt it when France and Ireland both went out and we weren't going to have a new winner.

'Well, it would have been a cool story to see him go across, have the season of his life and he's even having big moments here this weekend as well. He is a serious, serious rugby player - no matter what code.'

Argentina have dominated on the men's circuit this season winning three times in Cape Town, Perth and Vancouver, while on the women's series, New Zealand have been the team to beat, edging Australia to clinch four victories this season - but it was the Tim Walsh-coached Australian women's side who would come up trumps on finals weekend.

In the men's game, Argentina's recent form has been seriously impressive and while they weren't able to pick up a win in Madrid, O'Driscoll believes they have a good chance of winning gold in Paris.

'Of course they can,' he said when asked if Argentina could win at the Olympics. 'Form is still important to bring in. It's very hard to just turn it on and Fiji haven't been themselves this year really on the high level of quality that they deliver year after year.

'If you look at comparing it to other years, I wouldn't say this Fijian team has been at that level. However, you know, good players rise to the big occasion. And then you just need a bit of good fortune - you need the rub of the green.

'Fiji will be in the conversation. But Argentina has to be a hot favourite for a gold medal on the basis of what we've seen in the men's game.'

But with Dupont orchestrating things for France, overturning the hosts in Paris may be a hard task.

'Yeah, I'm sure they will use that home support as motivation to deliver a very high-end tournament.

'But you need other factors to go for you. And you do need your best players to deliver in key moments, which he [Dupont] has done so far.'

'The real question is can the rest of the team put the side in a position to be able to have the likes of him coming on for three, four or five minutes to then still be in the game for him to be able to weave that magic and create those try scoring moments or score them themselves? We'll have to, we'll have to wait and see.

'But I think no one would begrudge a home team victory in the Olympics considering what we've seen from their star man.'