With the Rio Olympics now in view, Sevens has never been bigger - and that is certainly the case for the J.P. Morgan Asset Management Premiership Rugby Sevens Series with Saracens’ Allianz Park getting its first taste of the competition on Saturday.

And to mark this occasion a giant orange seven measuring a staggering 23 metres in width by 49 metres in length has been unveiled at the club’s ground to signal the countdown to the final set of group games.

With all 12 Premiership Rugby clubs split across three regional rounds, the opening group of Bath Rugby, Exeter Chiefs, Gloucester Rugby and Worcester Warrriors do battle on August 1 at Kingsholm.

Northampton Saints, Leicester Tigers, Newcastle Falcons and Sale Sharks will then fight it out 24 hours later before Sarries, Harlequins, London Irish and London Wasps take each other on to see who will go forward to fight it out for the title in the Series Final at the Rec on Friday August 9.

Former England captain Lawrence Dallaglio, new rugby expert for BT Sport who will be showing the series live, knows a thing or two about how important Sevens is having won the inaugural Rugby World Cup Sevens in 1993 and he admits he can’t wait for this year’s competition to get underway.

"The J.P. Morgan Asset Management Premiership Rugby Sevens is really the start of the season and it covers the opening few weekends and starts the coverage of BT Sport," he said.

"Sevens is becoming such a massive sport. We have just had the Rugby Sevens World Cup and we have Sevens coming into the Olympic Games in 2016 and it has really been growing.

"We heard from some of the stars of the J.P. Morgan Premiership Rugby Sevens tournament with the likes of Tom Homer who played for London Irish in the final, Matt Banahan who played for Bath, Tom Varndell who could feature for London Wasps and it will be very interesting.

"The only thing that is the same in the game of Sevens since I played in the 1993 Rugby World Cup Sevens is that there are seven players on the pitch. It is a much more dynamic and explosive game and one you are far better off watching than playing.

"I have always been a fan of Sevens, particularly in the early stages of your career as it is a real development game and it is really growing across the world."

The home fans packing out Allianz Park a week today will be hoping to see their side get the new season off to a flyer having topped the Aviva Premiership table but failed to make it to Twickenham for the final after a semi-final defeat to Saints.

And Sarries have a great weapon to call upon in the form of James Short - the competitions record try-scorer.

"It's nice to have a bit of a run around and score a few tries, it's an enjoyable day, or couple of days to get through to finals day," Short said.

"Every time I've played in the JP Morgan Sevens I have played quite well as have all the lads. For me personally I'd like to improve upon what I've done previously in this tournament and set the standard for the rest of the season.

"The first year out of the three it has been going we won it, and the last couple of years we've got into finals day but it's not gone our way, we've not got over that final hurdle.

"Every time I go out I try to have a bit of a run out, hopefully I can add to that total of 15. I enjoy playing. I've been brought up with playing Sevens, but I enjoy playing in a more professional environment."

The third leg of J.P Morgan Premiership Rugby 7s will be at Allianz Park, the home of Saracens, on Saturday 3 August. For tickets and more information visit: www.jpmorgan7s.com or follow @jpmorganrugby7s