Dubai: IMG’s proposal to create a city-based Indian Premier League-style sevens tournament across Europe every August is a long way off being approved and wouldn’t morph into replacing the current World Series, according to World Rugby chief executive officer Brett Gosper.

Former Scotland full-back Gavin Hastings had first suggested the idea of replacing international teams with city franchises in the World Series, on the sidelines of the Emirates Airline Dubai Rugby Sevens Long Lunch in October.

Shortly after, IMG proposed a smaller monthlong format to be held along similar lines in Europe every August, whereby city-teams could draft players of any nationality. This led some to believe it was the start of the World Series eventually switching from nations to cities, but Gosper has rubbished that assumption.

“We’ve absolutely no plans to replace the World Series, which is the most exciting product in sevens,” said Gosper. “Any other format would be complementary. But we’re a long way off approving that at this point.

“We’re in an explorative phase now to see if it’s something Unions want to get involved in (loaning out players) or not,” he added on the sidelines of a HSBC video screening of Ireland legend Brian O’Driscoll’s ‘Death Zone’ documentary at the Dubai Rugby Sevens on Thursday.

“There was a desire to move on this reasonably quickly but the 2018 calendar is already crowded with the Commonwealth Games and World Cup. But we will keep discussing these kinds of opportunities that can enhance the game.

“Anything we feel that would enhance the well-being, lifestyle and financial backing of players is important. That’s why we are looking at IMG’s proposal because it would supplement salaries and ensure quality players remain and others are attracted.

“But what’s clear is that the World Series would — under all circumstances — remain the pinnacle of the sport.”

USA coach Mike Friday recently said Europe was the wrong place to hold the IMG tournament because it already had a rugby culture, whereas new markets like America would benefit more, and attract newer audiences particularly if the event sat between NFL and NBA seasons.

“I guess they (IMG) felt the market return on their investment would happen reasonably quickly in Europe,” Gosper said of Friday’s suggestion. “As much as rugby is growing over there it’s a difficult market to grow from the commercial point of view.

“We’ve seen events and experiments stumble over there. We think we’ll have a massive World Cup (in San Francisco next year) but then there’s familiarity with (national) teams because of what the World Series has done. But would you go into city franchises there? You have to be confident to get crowds and return on money, but that’s up to investors to decide.”