Cardiff Blues and Wales international centre Allen makes his return to the sevens fold after last featuring for them in 2013. That season saw him win the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series Fans’ Favourite Try of the Year thanks to a striking solo effort in the final of the Hong Kong Sevens.
Meanwhile, Wales Sevens co-captain Treharne has been balancing his playing career with his medical studies at Exeter University, meaning the talismanic playmaker’s availability this season has been limited.
“Cory’s inclusion is another example of the sevens programme’s value to the regions,” said Wales Sevens head coach Gareth Williams.
“It highlights our ability to act as a reintroduction programme for proven international players in need of high-intensity competition and training. He’s a great character to have in the squad too, and is a proven sevens player who was very close to Olympic selection last summer.”
Allen’s availability coincides with Wales temporarily losing the services of Morgan Williams, who suffered an injury in Las Vegas last weekend. “We’ve now got the chance to look after Morgan, ensuring his availability, but also an ability to put his welfare first in his preparation for Hong Kong,” Williams said.
“Morgan has been superb this season for us, therefore making a change was a difficult choice. However, player development is a driving factor of our programme and we are putting the individual’s development at the forefront of our decision-making.”
With player development in mind, Williams said the absence of the 21-year-old gives another North Wales youngster, Tom Williams, an opportunity to lead the charge.
“Tom has fantastic attributes for the game and has been a constant threat in his very short time with us this season, therefore I am very excited to see how he expresses himself this week before returning for a spell of training with the Ospreys on his return ”
Wales Sevens squad for Vancouver Sevens
Luke Treharne (co-captain)
Cory Allen (Cardiff Blues)
Stefan Andrews (Aberavon)
Luke Morgan
Owen Jenkins
Tom Williams (Ospreys)
Ethan Davies
Lloyd Evans
Adam Thomas
Sam Cross (co-captain)
James Benjamin (Newport Gwent Dragons)
Ben Roach
Wales will face Fiji, Argentina and Samoa in Pool B of the Vancouver Sevens, which runs from 11th-12th March. More info about the tournament can be found here.
