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	Luke Morgan (61)
Team kit Change kit
World Cup Sevens
Appearances	4 (First in 1993)
Best result	2009, Champions

The Wales national rugby sevens team competes in the World Rugby Sevens 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 eight 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 been a core team that has competed in all 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.

World Rugby Sevens Series record

Current squad

Squad for 2016 Sydney Sevens:^[2]

Notable former players

• Lee Byrne
• Jason Forster
• James Hook
• Rhys Oakley
• Robin Sowden-Taylor
• Josh Turnbull
• Andy Powell
• Wayne Proctor
• Alex Cuthbert
• David Evans
• Richie Pugh

Notable former coaches

• Dai Rees
• Colin Hillman
• Gareth Baber

References