Wales national rugby sevens team

The Wales national rugby sevens team competes in the World Rugby Sevens Series, the Rugby World Cup Sevens and in the Commonwealth Games.

This article is about the men's team. For the women's team, see Wales women's national rugby sevens team.

Wales
UnionWelsh Rugby Union
Emblem(s)The Prince of Wales's feathers
Coach(es)Darren Edwards
Top scorerLuke Morgan (655)
Most triesLuke Morgan (131)
Team kit
Change kit
World Cup Sevens
Appearances5 (First in 1993)
Best result2009, Champions

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.

Tournament History

Rugby World Cup Sevens
World Cup Sevens record
Year Round Position Played Won Lost Drew
1993 Plate Semifinalists 11th 6 3 3 0
1997 Plate Quarterfinalists 13th 5 1 3 1
2001 Plate Semifinalists 11th 7 3 3 1
2005 Did Not Enter
2009 Champions 1st 6 5 1 0
2013 Quarterfinalists 5th 4 3 1 0
2018 11th5320
Total1 Title5/62815112

Commonwealth Games
Commonwealth Games record
Year Round Position Pld W L D
1998 Quarterfinalists 5th 5 2 3 0
2002 Plate Semifinalists 7th 5 2 3 0
2006 Plate Winners 5th 6 4 2 0
2010 Plate Semifinalists 7th 5 2 3 0
2014 Plate Finalists 6th 6 3 3 0
2018 Qualified
Total0 Titles5/52713140

2009 Rugby World Cup Sevens
Main article: 2009 Rugby World Cup Sevens

In Wales's first ever cup final appearance in a major rugby 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 quarterfinals spot. With results going their way Wales made it to the cup quarterfinals as one of the second place qualifiers for the first time in their history.

Wales beat favourites New Zealand in the quarterfinals 15–14, and defeated Samoa in the semifinals 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 oneGroup stage Zimbabwe31 – 5Tries: C. Hill (3), L. Williams, A. Brew
Conv: A. Thomas (3)
Day twoGroup stage Uruguay27 – 0Tries: R. Pugh (2), A. Thomas, J. Merriman, L. Beach
Conv: L. Williams (1)
Day twoGroup stage Argentina0–14Tries:
Conv:
Day threeCup Quarterfinal New Zealand15 – 14Tries: L. Williams, T. Isaacs, R. Pugh
Conv:
Day threeCup Semifinal Samoa19 – 12Tries: T. Isaacs, T. Selley, A. Brew
Conv: A. Thomas (2)
Day threeCup Final Argentina19 – 12Tries: 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

World Rugby Sevens Series record
2006–2007 Series (sixth overall)
First Day Event Finish
2006-12-01DubaiShield winners
2006-12-08GeorgePlate winners
2007-02-02WellingtonDid not compete
2007-02-10San DiegoDid not compete
2007-03-30Hong KongPlate winners
2007-04-07AdelaideBowl winners
2007-05-26LondonCup semi-finalists
2007-06-02EdinburghCup semi-finalists
2007–2008 Series (eighth overall)
First Day Event Finish
2007-11-30DubaiBowl semi-finalists
2007-12-07GeorgeBowl winners
2008-02-01WellingtonPlate runners-up
2008-02-09San DiegoBowl winners
2008-03-28Hong KongCup Quarter finalists
2008-04-05AdelaideBowl runners-up
2008-05-25LondonBowl runners-up
2008-05-31EdinburghCup semi-finalists
2008–2009 Series (ninth overall)
First Day Event Finish
2008-11-29DubaiBowl semi-finalists
2008-12-06GeorgeBowl semi-finalists
2009-02-07WellingtonPlate runners-up
2009-02-15San DiegoBowl semi-finalists
2009-03-29Hong KongPlate semi-finalists
2009-04-05AdelaidePlate semi-finalists
2009-05-24LondonBowl runners-up
2009-05-31EdinburghCup semi-finalists
2009–2010 Series
First Day Event Finish
2009-12-04DubaiBowl winners
2009-12-11GeorgeBowl winners
2010-02-05WellingtonBowl winners
2010-02-13Las VegasPlate semi-finalists
2010-03-19AdelaidePlate semi-finalists
2010-03-26Hong KongBowl runners-up
2010-05-22LondonPlate semi-finalists
2010-05-29EdinburghBowl winners

Team

Current squad
For a complete list of players in the current World Series, see 2018–19 World Rugby Sevens Series squads § Wales.

Former squads
Wales team to the 2018 Commonwealth Games

Squad for 2018 Commonwealth Games:[2]

Player Club
Adam Thomas (c)Cardiff Blues
Luke TreharneExeter University
Morgan WilliamsScarlets
Angus O'BrienDragons
Luke Morgan
Owen JenkinsCardiff Blues
Tom WilliamsScarlets
Ethan DaviesCross Keys
James BenjaminDragons
Justin TipuricOspreys
Hallam AmosDragons
Ben RoachDragons

Notable former players

Notable former coaches
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gollark: Press 🔵 to pay respects.

References
  1. BBC SPORT | Rugby Union | Internationals | Wales Sevens back for Melbourne
  2. "Commonwealth Games: Wales sevens call-up for Tipuric & Amos". BBC Sport. 19 March 2018. Retrieved 19 March 2018.
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