The Welsh Rugby Union launched the concept with a successful event on the August Bank Holiday weekend last year, and the event is now fixed in the calendar for the same weekend this summer.
The 12 Principality Premiership sides are confirmed to take part in the tournament, along with SWALEC Championship winners Ebbw Vale, runners-up Cardiff Met, RGC 1404 and Wales Students. The event will be beach themed with prizes on offer for the best fancy dress outfits.
Pontypridd won last year’s inaugural event, with head coach Paul John extolling its virtues. “It was a great event all round,” he said.
“The players got to express themselves in the seven a side game, the coaches got to have a look at players ahead of the season and it was just generally a good day out. The structure of the day was excellent, with clubs happy with the number of quality games they played, the 3G pitch means the conditions are the same for everyone throughout the day and with the city centre location, it’s perfect for a full day’s entertainment.”
“In terms of our aims for this season, we will clearly be looking to defend our Foster’s National Sevens title but it will also be extremely useful going into the Premiership season to see how players fare, and for us, Gareth Wyatt will be coaching the side so it will be a great experience for him.”
Alex Webber, who picked up the Colin Hillman Player of the Tournament award at last season’s event, said, “The tournament was a huge success last year, for me personally, obviously for Pontypridd and for the city of Cardiff as we’d never had an event like that before. It was great to pit our wits against the best Sevens players in Wales and show what we could do.”
The competition will take the same format as last season with a Cup and Plate competition taking place after Round One matches, enabling every team to play at least two matches. However, the seedings will now be based on last season’s Foster’s National Sevens standings, with Pontypridd, Llandovery, Aberavon and RGC the four seeded teams having reached the Cup semi-finals. The draw will take place early next month.
Bedwas lifted the Plate last season. Captain James Thomas said, “For Premiership sides, it will be good to see some of the new signings in action and it’s good to set out our stall for the season to come. Everyone enjoys playing sevens and for us it was good to come away with a trophy last season. We will be looking to kick on this year and hopefully go further in the Cup competition.”
Benn Morris, Business Development Manager, Heineken UK said, “Heineken UK, in association with Foster’s are again proud sponsors of the Foster’s National Sevens held at the prestigious Cardiff Arms Park. Foster’s celebrated its 125th anniversary last year and has grown the family by introducing Foster’s Gold and Foster’s Radler. Foster’s, in partnership with the WRU are excited to introduce and support this great rugby occasion and to provide a great, fun consumer experience. Fosters Sevens – A Good Call !”
Tickets are on sale now at just £10 for adults, £5 for Under 16s and £20 for a family ticket (2 adults, 2 children). To purchase tickets now, go to www.wru.co.uk/fosterssevens, call 0333 321 9989 (Ticketmaster) or 02920 230130 (Ticketline). Tickets are also available to personal callers from the WRU shop, 8 Westgate Street, from Ticketline, 47 Westgate Street and from participant clubs.
