Edwards fit to lead Wales Sevens

[(IRB.COM) Wednesday 19 March 2008] ：

Welsh rugby is on a high after their Grand Slam in the RBS Six Nations and Wales Sevens coach Gareth Baber has set his side the target of reaching the Cup quarter-finals in both Hong Kong and Adelaide, the next two legs of the IRB Sevens World Series.

That is something Wales have managed only once in four attempts so far in 2007/08 - when they lost 40-5 to eventual champions New Zealand in Wellington - and the task is harder in Hong Kong with the six pools meaning only the two best runners-up will progress to the last eight of the Cup competition.

Wales, who currently lie 11th in the standings with 10 points after winning the Plate in Wellington and the Bowl in both George and San Diego, have been drawn in Pool D with Fiji, Kenya and Zimbabwe at the Hong Kong Sevens, which runs from 28-30 March.

"Hong Kong is a large tournament of 24 teams so while we will benefit from playing our three pool games over two days, we have to either win the group or finish as one of the two best second-placed sides to progress to day three of the Cup competition," explained Baber.

"That is our aim, to finish in the top eight in both Hong Kong and Adelaide, but we have to improve on our last tournaments if we are to achieve that goal."

Combining youth and experience

Baber has selected a blend of youth and experience with captain Jonathan Edwards recovering from a hamstring injury to take his place in the squad, while Aled Brew and James Merriman are among the players returning after missing the last two legs in Wellington and San Diego.

Gareth Owen, who played in the opening events in Dubai and George last December, is another after helping Wales finish second in the Under 20 Six Nations, while Tom Riley is set to make his international Sevens debut. The squad also includes twin brothers James and Robert Lewis.

"We have an experienced squad of players, while our development players such as James Harris, James and Robert Lewis and Alec Jenkins have a number of tournaments under their belts now and are becoming very good Sevens players in their own right," added Baber.

The weekend after the Hong Kong Sevens, Wales will face Samoa, Tonga and Japan in Pool B at the International Rugby Sevens Adelaide, which again takes place at the iconic cricket ground the Adelaide Oval.

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