The Stoop was not on fire last Friday night but there were more than a few sparks of interest © Getty Images

The mere prospect of embarking on a new season may be enough to bring some of you out in a sweat but for the big boys that day arrived last Friday. Pre-season may only be a couple of weeks old but the competitive juices were flowing at the first event in the snappily-named JP Morgan Asset Management Premiership Rugby Sevens Series staged at the Twickenham Stoop.

Harlequins, Saracens, Wasps and London Irish went head-to-head in the first event of its kind and produced some eye-catching rugby in its shortened form which was appreciated by a sizeable crowd estimated at around 5,000. The demands of an already busy playing calendar ensured that the event was shorn of some big names but there was a healthy mix of veterans (including Andy Gomarsall back in Wasps' colours for the first time in 11 years and Harlequins player coach Howard Graham), Sevens specialists (like Saracens' Kevin Barrett) and exciting young talent (such as Quins' Miles Mantella and Saracens' Jackson Wray).

The result was an entertaining evening of Sevens action with Saracens and Harlequins booking their passage through to the Series Final at The Rec on August 6. Before then, the Premiership's other sides will contest the remaining two groups at Welford Road and Franklin's Gardens to decide the other finalists.

The event may have struggled to cause more than a ripple with rugby writers enjoying their summer holidays, and the wider sporting media still recovering from the exertions of the World Cup and focused on the Open Championship at St Andrews. But with Sevens destined for a higher profile with Olympics inclusion from 2016 (the Commonwealth Games comes first, later this year, while the IRB Sevens World Series goes from strength to strength) it makes sense to try and bridge the gap and give the country's leading players a stage on which to perform - especially with first team opportunities limited. However, the scheduling and demands on players means this tournament is unlikely to ever be more than a development tool for the clubs.

The event took on greater significance for ESPN - the broadcast partner and the owners of ESPNscrum.com - who debuted certain elements of their live rugby production that will also steer you through the forthcoming Aviva Premiership Rugby season.

Sarra Elgan, who many may know through her rugby work for S4C, presented the coverage from the touchline and was a huge plus and easy on the eye while the analysis of Ben Kay (who will take on a similar role for the Premiership) and Peter Richards was also informative and refreshing. Martin Gillingham was behind the microphone, as he is for ESPN's Top 14 coverage, and he was joined by Kay who showed the value of utilising a player fresh from hanging up his boots with some interesting insight. There was no mention of player welfare or burnout with the focus firmly on the opportunities provided by the competition and with recent hint from the RFU that this version of the game may provide a pathway to full Test honours it was no surprise to see some grab that chance with both hands.

The decision of the director to send cameras and microphones into player huddles pre and post game to bring the viewer closer to the action brought the expletive-laden outbursts you would expect. The swearing was perhaps more Danny Cipriani than Van Humphries but amusing all the same. The comments helped to convey the fact that the clubs were taking the competition seriously and this was hammered home with some bone-crunching tackles and inevitable injuries.

We can expect ESPN's coverage of the Premiership to include a few more bells and whistles - not to mention the considerable talents of Austin Healey and Nick Mullins - but it was still an impressive debut and like the Sevens Series itself will no doubt kick on from here.