The tournament, which also includes the Radler’s Women’s Sevens competition, will take place on Bank Holiday Sunday 28 August at BT Sport Cardiff Arms Park and will culminate a summer where rugby sevens will enjoy unprecedented profile thanks to its inclusion at the Olympic Games in Rio.
The Principality Premiership and the Foster’s 7s are key breeding grounds for Wales Sevens, with the likes of Sam Cross and Luke Treharne, who have today been named in the GB Sevens training squad ahead of Rio having played at the Foster’s 7s in recent years, and James Davies and Luke Morgan who have also been included having come through the Principality Premiership.
Along with Foster’s’ Chris Lloyd, Scarlets flanker James Davies conducted the Foster’s 7s draw at Aberavon beach today which sees his former club Carmarthen Quins place Neath in Round 1. Current champions Llandovery were drawn against Bedwas in Round 1, while last year’s finalists Pontypridd face Premiership newcomers Bargoed first up. Last season’s Plate winners Llanelli play Swansea one of the other promoted Championship teams, Swansea in Round 1 while the other confirmed newcomer to the Principality Premiership, Merthyr, were drawn against Cross Keys, who reached the last four last season. The other seeded team, Aberavon, will play Newport while the remaining first round fixtures are Ebbw Vale v Cardiff and RGC / Pontypool v Bridgend with that final place going to the fourth promoted Championship team.
The Women’s teams will play preliminary matches on the day of the Foster’s 7s, with the semi-finals and final taking place at BT Sport Cardiff Arms Park. The Scarlets are defending champions.
Wales Sevens head coach Gareth Williams said,
“The Foster’s National 7s not only gives us a chance to look at the form of potential Wales Sevens squad members ahead of the build up to the international season. It is always good to see fresh new talent put their hands up for consideration too.”
“The knock-on effect of being an Olympic sport will be huge and the Foster’s 7s is a great example of the entertaining nature of the game, both in terms of the quality of rugby on offer on the field and the carnival atmosphere off it.”
WRU Head of Rugby Performance Geraint John added, “Sevens is set to benefit from a huge upturn in interest and profile following the Rio Olympics and the Foster’s 7s is a chance for Welsh supporters to experience what a great sport it is. It is also a chance for participating players to show what they can do and put their hands up for national selection. Two of our GB Sevens training squad members Luke Treharne and Sam Cross have played in the Foster’s 7s in recent seasons which shows what can be done and the 2018 Commonwealth Games and the 2020 Olympic Games are not that far away.”
Sevens will be on a high this summer and if you’re not going to Rio, or enjoy Rio and want to see Welsh sevens talent in action, look no further than Cardiff Arms Park on bank Holiday weekend.
When: Sunday 28 August (all day event)
Tickets: wru.wales/tickets £10 adults, under 16s free of charge
