Wales head coach Gareth Williams will be sending a new-look team along with a new captain to Dubai after last season’s skipper Jevon Groves moved to regional rugby with Cardiff Blues this season.
With the first two tournaments rapidly approaching (the second is in South Africa a week after Dubai), Williams is running out of time to confirm his chosen 12 from his extended training squad.
“I’m very excited about the challenge the pool poses in Dubai, but the focus for the squad is very much on ourselves and what we bring to the table in challenging the three teams we are up against,” said Williams.
“I am very enthused by the squad we have been able to pull together, and the support of the Regions has been fantastic for this. We hope this may continue and develop even further to enhance the World Series programme again over the coming years.
“The blend of the squad offers a fine balance of sevens experience, Regional and International experience, and youth. The sevens Core Players of Sam Cross, Nicky Griffiths, Luke Treharne, Chris Knight and Ben Roach have been working hard in establishing principles and policies that will be expanded on with the wider group coming together.
“Players who have established themselves through the European Series and taken advantage of our environment over the summer are led by former Wales U20’s outside half Ethan Davies who has starred for Cross Keys in the Premiership this season. Other stand out performers in Europe and who have the opportunity of staking a claim at a higher level are Alex Humphrey, Luke Crocker and Jacob Unwin – they have trained superbly to enhance their development and will now compete with the wider squad for World Series berths.”
Williams believes he also has an exciting mix of regional players coming together for the camp, with returning faces Kristian Phillips, Owen Jenkins, Lloyd Evans, Angus O’Brien, proven World Series try scorer Luke Morgan and former captain Adam Thomas bringing excellent knowledge of the environment with them. They are complimented by first time selections for Morgan Williams, Mathew Owen and Josh Lewis.
“Joining for the first time in the squad are Ollie Griffiths, last season’s stand out performer for the U20’s as well as bursting on to the Regional stage with a Man of the Match performance against Ulster last week,” added Williams. “Wales International Jordan Williams, who has all the attributes to excel on the World Series, is also in the mix,” he said.
“It is a very exciting squad to have gathered, and this is through great co-operation from the Regions. It is the start of a journey on the World Series and hopefully we can start as strongly as possible before looking to improve as we progress through the year.
“Players derive from numerous different environments, but the aim early on is to mould the group together in to a cohesive National 7’s squad and challenge the best in the world at Dubai and Cape Town.”
Wales Sevens Training Squad
Sam Cross (Wales 7’s)
Luke Treharne (Wales 7’s)
Nicky Griffiths (Wales 7’s)
Chris Knight (Wales 7’s)
Ben Roach (Wales 7’s)
Luke Morgan (Newport Gwent Dragons)
Ollie Griffiths (Newport Gwent Dragons)
Angus O’Brien (Newport Gwent Dragons)
Adam Thomas (Cardiff Blues)
Owen Jenkins (Cardiff Blues)
Josh Lewis (Scarlets)
Jordan Williams (Scarlets)
Mathew Owen (Scarlets)
Morgan Williams (Ospreys)
Kristian Phillips (Ospreys)
Lloyd Evans (Ospreys)
Ethan Davies (Cross Keys)
Jacob Unwin (Unattached)
Alex Humphrey (Neath & Bath Uni)
Luke Crocker (Ebbw Vale)
