There was anger and dismay in the Welsh camp after the referee blew for full time despite the stadium clock indicating twenty seconds of play remaining. Samoa Sevens had just knocked on in front of their own posts and the resultant scrum to Wales Sevens would have been an ideal position to score a close-range try.
“I’m fuming,” confessed Wales Sevens Coach Dai Rees. “This decision may have cost us a place in the top eight.”
In a tight match Wales Sevens competed all the way scoring tries by Richie Pugh in the first half and Lee Williams after the interval, but it was not enough to answer the three scores by Samoa Sevens.
Wales Sevens are likely to go into the second day’s play without Gareth Owen. The 19-year-old outside half, who impressed for Wales Sevens, picked up a knee injury against Samoa Sevens and had to be assisted off the field.
