Wales Sevens were drawn in Pool D with international Sevens experts Fiji Sevens (currently ranked No.3 on the overall standings table), Zimbabwe Sevens and Korea Sevens, in the fifth leg of the IRB Sevens World Series 2007-2008. Korea Sevens will make their first appearance on the tour this season at the Hong Kong event, while Zimbabwe Sevens took part in the first leg of the tour in Dubai last November.
Wales Sevens will play their first match of the tournament against Zimbabwe Sevens on March 28th 2008 (4.30pm local time) followed by new boys Korea Sevens on Day Two (11.14am local time), leaving the challenge of Fiji Sevens for the final Pool match at the end of the Day Two (5:50pm local time). The third day of the competition is the knockout phase with the Bowl, Plate and Cup trophies on offer.
Wales Sevens are currently ranked in 11th place on the overall standings table with 10 points from four legs. Gareth Baber’s side returned from Wellington and San Diego this week, having finished in sixth place in New Zealand and with a Bowl trophy from San Diego.
Head Coach Baber said: “While we achieved one of our goals in reaching the last eight and making it to the Plate Final in New Zealand, it was bitterly disappointing to miss out on Day Two of the Cup competition in San Diego through a below average performance against France Sevens.
“Despite that setback, we recovered well on Day Two, beating first Australia Sevens and Canada Sevens then the USA Sevens in front of a big home crowd to come away with some silverware.
“We saw some more emerging talent including youngster Dave Evans who was unfortunate to suffer a collar bone injury in Wellington but I’m sure we’ll see more of him in the future. Once again, the class of players like Tal Selley, Daf Hewitt and Johnathan Edwards shone through.
“Our aim is to regularly reach the last eight so we will regroup and knuckle down again in training before we leave for Hong Kong and Adelaide next month.”
Runaway Series leaders and defending champions New Zealand Sevens top the overall standings table after winning every leg so far in the tour to amass 80 points, and secure top seed status for Hong Kong.
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