Wales national rugby sevens team

Wales
Union Welsh Rugby Union
Emblem(s) The Prince of Wales's feathers
Coach(es) Gareth Williams
Top scorer Rhys Jones
Most tries Tal Selly (60)
Team kit
Change kit
World Cup Sevens
Appearances 4 (First in 1993)
Best result 2009, Champions

The Wales national rugby sevens team is the international rugby sevens side for Welsh rugby union players. They currently compete in the IRB Sevens World Series, the Rugby World Cup Sevens and in the Commonwealth Games.

Wales were the World Cup Sevens Champions after winning the 2009 Rugby World Cup Sevens in the United Arab Emirates. But they relinquished that title after failing to defend their crown at the 2013 Rugby World Cup Sevens in Moscow.

The Welsh sevens squad was disbanded by the Welsh Rugby Union due to financial constraints. After a three-year absence, the Wales sevens team returned to international competition in the 2006–07 season.[1] They competed at half of the 8 tournaments and won the plate competition (fifth place) at each of them. They repeated this feat at the 2006 Commonwealth Games.

The star of the 2005–06 squad was Neath and Ospreys player James Hook. Hook has since progressed to the full Welsh national side. In 2006–07, Wales competed in the Dubai, South Africa, Australia, Hong Kong, Scotland and England legs of the IRB's World Sevens Series, reaching the semi-finals of the cup at Twickenham and Murrayfield. Wales have competed in all 8 legs of the IRB Sevens Series since the 2007–08 season.

At the 2016 USA Sevens, Wales beat Canada, Portugal, Scotland and France to win the Bowl final and claim 9th place.

2009 Sevens Rugby World Cup

Results

In Wales's first ever Cup Final appearance in a major Sevens event, Wales played Argentina in the 2009 World Cup Final.

In the Group stages Wales beat Zimbabwe 31–5 and Uruguay 27–0 before losing to Argentina 14–0 in the final pool match, leaving Wales uncertain of a Cup Quarter Final spot. With results going their way Wales made it to the Cup Quarter Finals as one of the second place qualifiers for the first time in their history.

Wales beat favourites New Zealand in the Quarter Finals 15–14 and Samoa in the semi-finals 19–12.

Wales faced Argentina for the second time in the tournament in the Final. Wales started with the same team that played against New Zealand and Samoa earlier in the day. At half time Wales had a lead of 12–7 after tries from Richie Pugh and Tal Selley. In the second half Argentina levelled the score at 12–12. With less than 90 seconds left, Wales's Aled Thomas scored underneath the posts and with a successful conversion put Wales into the lead at 19–12. Argentina claimed the restart. After the siren sounded to indicate there was no time left on the clock Argentina fumbled the ball in a ruck leading to the ball being kicked out of play and Wales being crowned the 2009 Sevens Rugby World Cup Champions.

2009 Rugby World Cup Sevens (Winners)
Day Round Opposition Score Scorers
Day one Group stage  Zimbabwe 31 – 5 Tries: C. Hill (3), L. Williams, A. Brew
Conv: A. Thomas (3)
Day two Group stage  Uruguay 27 – 0 Tries: R. Pugh (2), A. Thomas, J. Merriman, L. Beach
Conv: L. Williams (1)
Day two Group stage  Argentina 0–14 Tries:
Conv:
Day three Cup Quarterfinal  New Zealand 15 – 14 Tries: L. Williams, T. Isaacs, R. Pugh
Conv:
Day three Cup Semifinal  Samoa 19 – 12 Tries: T. Isaacs, T. Selley, A. Brew
Conv: A. Thomas (2)
Day three Cup Final  Argentina 19 – 12 Tries: A. Thomas, T. Selley, R. Pugh
Conv: A. Thomas (2)

2009 World Cup winning squad

The 12-man squad, coached by Paul John of Pontypridd, for the 2009 Rugby World Cup Sevens.

Player
 Club
Rhodri McAtee Cornish Pirates
Lee Williams Scarlets
Tom Isaacs Newport Gwent Dragons
Craig Hill Newport Gwent Dragons
James Merriman Unattached
Tal Selley Newport Gwent Dragons
Aled Brew Newport Gwent Dragons
Aled Thomas London Welsh
Rhys Webb Ospreys
Richie Pugh Exeter Chiefs
Dafydd Hewitt Cardiff Blues
Lee Beach (c) Neath

IRB World Sevens Series record

2006–2007 Series (sixth overall)
First Day Event Finish
2006-12-01 Dubai Shield winners
2006-12-08 George Plate winners
2007-02-02 Wellington Did not compete
2007-02-10 San Diego Did not compete
2007-03-30 Hong Kong Plate winners
2007-04-07 Adelaide Bowl winners
2007-05-26 London Cup semi-finalists
2007-06-02 Edinburgh Cup semi-finalists
2007–2008 Series (eighth overall)
First Day Event Finish
2007-11-30 Dubai Bowl semi-finalists
2007-12-07 George Bowl winners
2008-02-01 Wellington Plate runners-up
2008-02-09 San Diego Bowl winners
2008-03-28 Hong Kong Cup Quarter finalists
2008-04-05 Adelaide Bowl runners-up
2008-05-25 London Bowl runners-up
2008-05-31 Edinburgh Cup semi-finalists
2008–2009 Series (ninth overall)
First Day Event Finish
2008-11-29 Dubai Bowl semi-finalists
2008-12-06 George Bowl semi-finalists
2009-02-07 Wellington Plate runners-up
2009-02-15 San Diego Bowl semi-finalists
2009-03-29 Hong Kong Plate semi-finalists
2009-04-05 Adelaide Plate semi-finalists
2009-05-24 London Bowl runners-up
2009-05-31 Edinburgh Cup semi-finalists
2009–2010 Series
First Day Event Finish
2009-12-04 Dubai Bowl winners
2009-12-11 George Bowl winners
2010-02-05 Wellington Bowl winners
2010-02-13 Las Vegas Plate semi-finalists
2010-03-19 Adelaide Plate semi-finalists
2010-03-26 Hong Kong Bowl runners-up
2010-05-22 London Plate semi-finalists
2010-05-29 Edinburgh Bowl winners

Current squad

Squad for 2016 Sydney Sevens:[2]

Player
 Club
Luke Treharne (c)Exeter University
Sam Cross Newport
Ben Roach Cardiff
Luke Morgan Newport Gwent Dragons
Lloyd Lewis Newport Gwent Dragons
Jordan Williams Llanelli Scarlets
Adam Thomas Cardiff Blues
Owen Jenkins Cardiff Blues
Tom Isaacs Cardiff Blues
Kristian Phillips Neath Swansea Ospreys
Ethan Davies Cross Keys
Luke Crocker Ebbw Vale

Notable former players

Notable former coaches

References

  1. ↑ BBC SPORT | Rugby Union | Internationals | Wales Sevens back for Melbourne
  2. ↑ http://www.wru.co.uk/eng/wales/news/sevens/35733.php#.Vss68dD9m-c
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