The Welshman captained the Royals to their triumph in Exeter and followed that victory, when he was named as the player of the tournament, with another starring role in Poland to give himself every chance of being picked in the final 12 for Brazil when head coach Simon Amor announces his squad this week.
Treharne picked up 51 points as the Royals cruised through their Pool and then dispatched Italy and Spain to set-up a ‘Battle of Britain’ in the final. The scrum half play-maker kicked four conversions in the 42-0 win over Lithuania, grabbed 11 points in the 36-7 victory over Italy and then ensured his side won the Pool by converting four of the five tries in a 33-7 triumph over Germany.
While Treharne was the sole Welshman in the Royals squad – Cory Allen missed the tournament because of concussion protocols – , the GB Lions had James Davies, Sam Cross and Wales Under 20 scrum half Reuben Morgan-Williams in their ranks.
The Lions battled through a very tough group and were forced to hit back from a 14-5 deficit to beat Georgia in their opening game. Tries from Mark Bennett and Mark Robertson earned them a 15-14 victory before they ran in five tries in a more comfortable 33-14 win over Poland.
They then beat France, who had reached the Cup final in Exeter, 26-12 by four tries to two, to win their Pool and ensure they would avoid the Royals until the final. They made it all the way with another win over Georgia, 12-0, and then a 17-14 semi-final victory against Russia.
Morgan-Williams marked his first start with a crucial second half try in the quarter-final victory, while it took an overtime penalty from Cameron Cowell to overcome the Russians and reach the final.
The Royals had little difficulty in powering their way past Italy (26-0) and then Spain (22-10) to reach another final. Treharne scored 11 points in the quarter-final and then converted one of four tries in the semi.
Two tries from Tom Bowen, one converted by Treharne gave the Royals a 12-0 lead in the final before Cowell waltzed over for a try which he also converted to cut the gap at the break to five points. The Lions then hit the front at the start of the second half with a Dan Norton try that Cowell improved to make it 14-12.
But ex-New Zealand Sevens international Warwick Lamhert put the Royals ahead again and Treharne clinched victory with a conversion and then a converted try of his own.
