Head coach Gareth Williams has been forced to make two changes to the squad with Cardiff Blues’ Dan Fish and Ben Roach being replaced by Alex Webber and Jason Harries. Fish is returning to the Blues squad for their crunch European Cup clash against Newport Dragons while Roach sustained an injury which ruled him out of action.
Wales will also face Hong Kong and England, who they lost to narrowly in the same stage in round six of the Sevens World Series last weekend.
Wales failed to reach the quarter-finals of the main draw in Hong Kong and eventually bowed out in the Bowl semi-final to Scotland. As a result, Wales stay in eleventh place in the overall rankings with just three tournaments remaining.
Wales will have to raise their game if they are to have any impact this weekend as Fiji are in red hot form, winning their third tournament of the season in Hong Kong after narrowly defeating England 14-12 at the quarter final stage.
Wales on the other hand have not made any inroads on the teams above them in the overall rankings with promising displays not being rewarded on the scoreboard.
Williams said: “Jason Harries and Alex Webber come in to a squad that finished Hong Kong in frustrating fashion having shown earlier glimpses of positive play.
“The squad have been working on increasing consistency in all areas of our game and ensuring the tight games start going our way. It is an ongoing development of a very fresh group that is full of potential.”
Team Manager, Steff Thomas, added: “Getting our 12 together for Tokyo hasn’t been without its challenges. On the back of his good form in the Sevens programme we were pleased to see and support the Blues in Dan Fish returning to be part of their planning for the European game this week and new cap Ben Roach got injured in a freak training incident and had to return home for potential surgery. We have two core players in Jason Harries and Alex Webber coming in to join up with the squad.
“That said the boys are in a buoyant mood and I sense a good determination around the camp heading into the weekend. We are working extremely hard to speed up our journey to get to the consistent performances we all demand. The weekend presents a quick opportunity to challenge ourselves in a tough pool against last week’s winners Fiji, quarter finalists England and invitation side Hong Kong.”
Wales Sevens squad for Japan
Jevon Groves (WRU capt)
Sam Cross (WRU)
Craig Price (Scarlets)
Rhodri Davies (Llandovery)
Rhodri Williams (Scarlets)
Tomos Williams (Blues)
Angus O’Brien (Dragons)
Dan Fish (Blues)
Adam Warren (Scarlets)
Tom Williams (Blues)
Luke Morgan (Dragons)
Alex Webber (WRU)
Jason Harries (WRU)
