Paul John takes to the road

Posted on Jul 1, 2010 in Rugby News

Wales Sevens coach Paul John will have plenty to talk about when he hits the road next week after his side were drawn with South Africa, Tonga and host nation India for the Commonwealth Games Sevens in New Delhi on 11-12 October.

John, who coached Wales to their Rugby World Cup Sevens triumph in Dubai in 2009, is all set to travel to the four corners of the country next week in a bid to spread the gospel of the small sided game ahead of the Commonwealth Games.

He will deliver technical and skills sessions to more than 100 PE professionals keen to use sevens within the school curriculum and will give them a unique insight into what it was like to coach a World Cup winning side, how competitive the IRB World Series has become and how excited he is to be taking a Welsh team to New Delhi.

“The Commonwealth Games is a major international competition and I’m sure everyone will want to play. Those players who helped Wales win the Plate final in Melbourne four years ago all said what a wonderful experience it was to be part of such a massive sporting event,” said John.

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Young Wales 7s win silverware again

Posted on Dec 14, 2009 in Rugby News

Wales have won silverware for the second week running by claiming the Bowl in George, South Africa, in the second leg of the IRB Sevens series.

Craig Hill raced over in the first half and Lee Rees scored in the second period to lead Wales’s charge to a 14-5 victory over Russia in a hard fought final. Gareth Rees banged over two conversions to complete the scoring for Wales.

Russia rallied late on to score through Lev Sleptsov but it proved too little too late as Wales picked up their second title in two weeks.

En route to the final Wales swept aside the challenge of Tunisia 33-0 in the quarter-final before brushing aside the rapidly improving Portugal 24-7 in the semis.

After being knocked out of the main draw after finishing their pool in third place behind New Zealand and Samoa, Wales were looking to assert their authority in the Bowl competition.

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Principality Premiership Player of the Month

Posted on Dec 9, 2009 in Rugby News

Cardiff outside half Gareth Davies has won the Principality Premiership Player of the Month award for November.

Davies is currently with the Wales Sevens squad in Dubai having caught the eye of Paul John and the Wales Sevens management team.

Principality Premiership holders Cardiff are currently fifth in the table but only three points behind leaders Neath, and were the only Welsh side to win both their opening British and Irish Cup ties in November, beating Pontypridd 22-16 and Birmingham & Solihull 51-20. Davies has amassed 145 points already this season, already closing in on last year’s tally of 208.

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Fresh challenge for Wales sevens squad

Posted on Nov 26, 2009 in Rugby News

Wales Sevens head coach Paul John has announced a new-look squad for the first IRB Sevens World Series tournaments of the season in Dubai (Dec 5 – 7) and George, South Africa (Dec 11 – 12).

Only captain Chris Davies (Aberavon), Newport’s Craig Hill, Cross Keys flanker Jevon Groves and Llandovery flyer Ifan Evans have previous international Sevens experience, with Hill the only member of Wales’ Rugby World Cup Sevens winning squad set to return to Dubai. All four are contracted WRU core Sevens players, as are uncapped trio Chris Morgan (Aberavon), Nicky Thomas (Swansea) and Lloyd Wiliams (Blues).

Ospreys youngsters Ashley Beck and Justin Tipuric, Cardiff outside half Gareth Davies, Scarlets Academy scrum half Lee Rees and UWIC’s Alex Cuthbert have been added to the squad for these two legs of the Series.

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Rhys Downes: Principality Premiership Player of the Month

Posted on Nov 17, 2009 in Rugby News

Pontypridd scrum half Rhys Downes has won the Principality Premiership Player of the Month award for October.

Nathan Strong’s side are currently top of the Principality Premiership table, despite their last two games being called off, after winning their last six games on the trot, and nine of their 11 games to date. They won all five of their October games, beating Bedwas, the Wanderers and Cardiff away from home and Swansea and Newport at Sardis Road.

Downes played in four of those five October victories, scoring tries in the wins over Swansea and Newport.

Principality Premiership head coaches, WRU and Regional academy staff, and selected journalists select the winner who receives £100 from the Principality Building Society, title sponsors of the competition.

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