The Wales national rugby sevens team did compete at the annual World Rugby Sevens Series between 2000 and 2022, however merged with England and Scotland to form the Great Britain sevens team from the 2022–23 season onward. The team also competes at the quadrennial Rugby World Cup Sevens and the Commonwealth Games.
Wales were the World Cup Sevens Champions after winning the 2009 Rugby World Cup Sevens in the United Arab Emirates. But they relinquished that title after failing to defend their crown at the 2013 Rugby World Cup Sevens in Moscow.
The Welsh sevens squad was disbanded by the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) due to financial constraints. After a three-year absence, the Wales sevens team returned to international competition in the 2006–07 season.BBC SPORT | Rugby Union | Internationals | Wales Sevens back for Melbourne They competed at half of the eight tournaments and won the plate competition (fifth place) at each of them. They repeated this feat at the 2006 Commonwealth Games.
The star of the 2005–06 squad was Neath RFC and Ospreys player James Hook. Hook later progressed to the Wales national 15-a-side team. In 2006–07, Wales competed in the Dubai, South Africa, Australia, Hong Kong, Scotland and England legs of the IRB's World Sevens Series, reaching the semi-finals of the cup at Twickenham and Murrayfield Stadium. Wales have been a core team that has competed in all legs of the IRB Sevens Series since the 2007–08 season.
At the 2016 USA Sevens, Wales beat Canada, Portugal, Scotland and France to win the Bowl final and claim 9th place.
Tournament history Rugby World Cup Sevens World Cup Sevens recordYearRoundPosition Played Won Lost Drew 1993Plate Semifinalists11th6330 1997Plate Quarterfinalists13th5131 2001Plate Semifinalists11th7331 2005Did not enter 2009Champions1st6510 2013Quarterfinalists5th4310 2018 Round of 16 11th 5 3 2 0 2022Challenge quarter-finals15th5230Total1 Title7/83820162
Commonwealth Games Commonwealth Games recordYearRoundPosition 1998Quarterfinalists5th5230 2002Plate Semifinalists7th5230 2006Plate Winners5th6420 2010Plate Semifinalists7th5230 2014Plate Finalists6th6330 2018Seventh playoff7th5320 2022Ninth–twelfth playoff11th5230Total0 Titles7/73718190
2009 Rugby World Cup Sevens
In Wales's first ever cup final appearance in a major rugby sevens event, Wales played Argentina in the 2009 World Cup Final.
In the Group stages Wales beat Zimbabwe 31–5 and Uruguay 27–0 before losing to Argentina 14–0 in the final pool match, leaving Wales uncertain of a cup quarterfinals spot. With results going their way Wales made it to the cup quarterfinals as one of the second place qualifiers for the first time in their history.
Wales beat favourites New Zealand in the quarterfinals 15–14, and defeated Samoa in the semifinals 19–12.
Wales faced Argentina for the second time in the tournament in the Final. Wales started with the same team that played against New Zealand and Samoa earlier in the day. At half time Wales had a lead of 12–7 after tries from Richie Pugh and Tal Selley. In the second half Argentina levelled the score at 12–12. With less than 90 seconds left, Wales's Aled Thomas scored underneath the posts and with a successful conversion put Wales into the lead at 19–12. Argentina claimed the restart. After the siren sounded to indicate there was no time left on the clock Argentina fumbled the ball in a ruck leading to the ball being kicked out of play and Wales being crowned the 2009 Sevens Rugby World Cup Champions.
+ 2009 Rugby World Cup Sevens (Winners)DayRoundOppositionScoreScorers Day one Group stage 31 – 5 Tries: C. Hill (3), L. Williams, A. BrewConv: A. Thomas (3) Day two Group stage 27 – 0 Tries: R. Pugh (2), A. Thomas, J. Merriman, L. BeachConv: L. Williams (1) Day two Group stage 0–14 Tries:Conv: Day three Cup Quarterfinal 15 – 14 Tries: L. Williams, T. Isaacs, R. PughConv: Day three Cup Semifinal 19 – 12 Tries: T. Isaacs, T. Selley, A. BrewConv: A. Thomas (2) Day three Cup Final 19 – 12 Tries: A. Thomas, T. Selley, R. PughConv: A. Thomas (2)
2009 World Cup winning squad The 12-man squad, coached by Paul John of Pontypridd, for the 2009 Rugby World Cup Sevens.
Player ClubRhodri McAteeCornish PiratesLee WilliamsScarletsTom IsaacsNewport Gwent DragonsCraig HillNewport Gwent DragonsJames MerrimanUnattachedTal SelleyNewport Gwent DragonsAled BrewNewport Gwent DragonsAled ThomasLondon WelshRhys WebbOspreysRichie PughExeter ChiefsDafydd HewittCardiff BluesLee Beach (c)Neath
World Rugby Sevens Series record + 2006–2007 Series (sixth overall)First DayEventFinish 2006-12-01 Dubai Shield winners 2006-12-08 George Plate winners 2007-02-02 Wellington Did not compete 2007-02-10 San Diego Did not compete 2007-03-30 Hong Kong Plate winners 2007-04-07 Adelaide Bowl winners 2007-05-26 London Cup semi-finalists 2007-06-02 Edinburgh Cup semi-finalists
+ 2007–2008 Series (eighth overall)First DayEventFinish 2007-11-30 Dubai Bowl semi-finalists 2007-12-07 George Bowl winners 2008-02-01 Wellington Plate runners-up 2008-02-09 San Diego Bowl winners 2008-03-28 Hong Kong Cup Quarter finalists 2008-04-05 Adelaide Bowl runners-up 2008-05-25 London Bowl runners-up 2008-05-31 Edinburgh Cup semi-finalists
+ 2008–2009 Series (ninth overall)First DayEventFinish 2008-11-29 Dubai Bowl semi-finalists 2008-12-06 George Bowl semi-finalists 2009-02-07 Wellington Plate runners-up 2009-02-15 San Diego Bowl semi-finalists 2009-03-29 Hong Kong Plate semi-finalists 2009-04-05 Adelaide Plate semi-finalists 2009-05-24 London Bowl runners-up 2009-05-31 Edinburgh Cup semi-finalists
+ 2009–2010 SeriesFirst DayEventFinish 2009-12-04 Dubai Bowl winners 2009-12-11 George Bowl winners 2010-02-05 Wellington Bowl winners 2010-02-13 Las Vegas Plate semi-finalists 2010-03-19 Adelaide Plate semi-finalists 2010-03-26 Hong Kong Bowl runners-up 2010-05-22 London Plate semi-finalists 2010-05-29 Edinburgh Bowl winners
Team Current squad There is no current squad as the team was disbanded in 2022, WRU cited financial pressure and lack of public interest in Wales.
Notable former players
Lee Byrne Taliesin Selley Jason Forster James Hook Rhys Oakley Robin Sowden-Taylor Josh Turnbull Andy Powell Wayne Proctor Alex Cuthbert David Evans Richie Pugh James Davies
Notable former coaches Dai Rees Colin Hillman Gareth Baber
References