WALES SEVENS OFF TO WINNING START

 Having finished third in their Pool on Day 1, losing to World Cup holders Fiji and No 4 ranked Samoa before beating Tunisia, Richie Pugh’s side swept all before them in the third tier competition on Day 2.

Playing infront of a packed house fo 30,000, Pugh’s men comfortably accounted for the Arabian Gulf in the Bowl quarter final, 24-7, before powerign past Scotland 19-0 in the semi-final. That left a final shoot-out against Canada.

This game was a much closer affair and the game was deadlocked at a try apiece for a long period. Then Ospreys wing Aled Brew broke clear to score the decisive score and Wales went on to win the final 19-5 and pick up their third Bowl title.

Wales’ successful return to the sevens arena meant they picked up two IRB World Series points and Ospreys outside half James Hook ended the tournament as the highest scorer with 53. That put him one point clear of England’s Ben Gollings and three ahead of Man of the Tournament, Tom Varndell. In addition, Wales scored 20 tries in their six games – the fourth best tally in the tournament.

It was Varndell, the Leicester Tigers wing, who spearheaded England to a successful defence of their Dubai title as they took the top trophy with a thrilling 28-26 over world champions Fiji. New Zealand, who were beaten by Fiji in the quarter-finals, went on to beat France 19-7 in the final of the Plate competition.

the IRB World Series now moves on South Africa, where the teams will play in the George Sevens next weekend.
 
 
Wales Sevens squad in Dubai: James Merriman (Gloucester Rugby), Richie Pugh (Ospreys, captain), Gareth Baber (Newport Gwent Dragons), Jonny Vaughton (Ospreys), James Hook (Ospreys), Jonathan Edwards (Llanelli Scarlets), Rhys Oakley (Newport Gwent Dragons), Rhodri McAtee (Penzance), Aled Brew (Ospreys), Tal Selley (Llanelli Scarlets), Wayne Evans (Cardiff Blues), Chris Davies (Newport Gwent Dragons).