Last week, in parallel with the Paris 7s, the Wales Sevens Development Squad enjoyed a fruitful first outing at the nearby Centrale 7s. The team finished third overall, losing only to Fijian side Yamacia, who boasted two Olympic champions and several Top 14 players.
“It was a great experience for them to come up against these different teams,” says Pugh. “Along the way they beat the French development team, Germany and Portugal were in there too, so there was strong opposition.”
For Pugh, it was a chance to run the rule over the players before the Wales squad is selected for Rugby Europe in a fortnight’s time. “We’ve been developing the team, alongside their Premiership clubs, on the back of last year’s Foster’s 7s [now Heineken 7s) and they’ve been working very hard.”
Most players in the squad have been in action in the Principality Premiership throughout the season. Centrale 7s was not only their first game together in the abbreviated code, but also the first time Wales has entered a development squad into a tournament.
Already this year, players such as Stef Andrews, Elliot Frewen and Jack Maynard have filtered into the World Series squad, proving the advantages of the system. “To start so well was a positive,” Pugh says. “A few of the players will get more game time with some well-known invitational sevens teams, but this was their first hit-out.”
For two of the players, the gains were almost instantaneous. “Off the back of Centrale 7s, Jack Maynard got capped with the full national side in Paris, and Joe Jenkins, who was player of the tournament in Centrale, has been called up to the squad for the London 7s this weekend. The development squad is showing its rewards.”
They have been coming together for training every Monday for the past month, and prior to that, each Monday the national sevens squad was on home soil between World Series weekends. This has allowed Pugh to better his understanding of the types of player he has knocking on the door for ultimate sevens honours.
“There are four legs to Rugby Europe: Russia, Poland, then a few weeks’ break before Clermont and Exeter,” explains Pugh. “With the Heineken 7s, there’s still an opportunity for boys to come late into programme, but we’ll primarily be looking to use a mix of our core players and the development group.”
Still, he says he’ll be keeping an eye on the Heineken 7s on Saturday 27th May for more than just some potential late bolters for Rugby Europe: “I’ll be watching for players who can come into programme next year, which will be a demanding one with the Commonwealth Games and Rugby World Cup Sevens also happening in 2018”
For the moment, Pugh has all sights set on Twickenham this weekend for the final leg of the World Series. “The year has absolutely flown by and we’ve now arrived at our tenth tournament,” he says. “The boys have had a good run of things in terms of what’s expected of them. We’ve got to be winning key games and fighting for top honours, and we’ve shown potential all along, but we’ve not quite nailed it at certain times.
“We’re in a tough pool with South Africa – who have already been crowned champions – and USA and Kenya, but we’re in no doubt we’ve got the potential to finish in the top two in that pool.”
With their development squad now firmly in place, Wales Sevens can look forward to benefiting from considerable reinforcement next season.
Wales Sevens Development Squad: Max George (Cross Keys), Cai Divine (Durham University), Andy Evans (Bargoed), Matt Cross (Nelson) Josh Skinner (Newport Gwent Dragons), Jacob Unwin (Cross Keys) Gwion Jones (Carmarthen Quins), Will Thomas (Rotherham), Jack Maynard (Scarlets), Joe Jenkins (Ospreys/Swansea), Dafydd Smith (Cardiff and Vale College), Elliot Frewen (Newport).
