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Five Dragons Involved with Wales 7s

A total of five Dragons personnel will be involved with the Wales 7s team for their IRB Sevens Series tournaments in Dubai and George, South Africa.

Kath McCarthy | 23/11/2006

A total of five Dragons personnel will be involved with the Wales 7s team for their IRB Sevens Series tournaments in Dubai and George, South Africa.

Dragons Skills Coach Dai Rees goes as Head Coach while Dragons scrum half Gareth Baber is his assistant.

Three Dragons players have been named in the 13-man squad, Gareth Chapman, Aled Thomas and James Harris.

Speaking at the squad announcement Dai Rees said, "It's been tough once again identifying available players that fit our criteria for Sevens in a busy regional and international period.

"However, we are pleased that the Regions have released some of our more experienced Sevens players and some key development players.

"That balance is indicated in the squad which fits in with the WRU's strategic aims for international Sevens which are to blood some up and coming stars on a high profile stage in the same way as James Hook has made huge steps since playing for Wales Sevens last season.

"This squad contains four of our Wales Under 20s squad in back row James Harris, wings Alec Jenkins and Thomas James and full back Martyn Thomas.

"We've also got a number of last season's Under 21 internationals and some experienced Sevens players such as captain Richie Pugh. Jonathan Edwards, Rhodri McAtee - and Tal Selley who will join us in South Africa for the George tournament - played in every tournament we participated in last season and are key players for us.

"We are victims of our own success in terms of players such as James Hook and Wayne Evans securing firm places within their regional squads, making them unavailable for the Sevens Series this season.

"Our objectives are to ensure the development of a number of youngsters, which comes from exposing them to a world class competition environment.

"If two or three of our Sevens squad become established Regional players by this time next year - or even further progress into the senior Wales squad as James Hook as done - we will have done our job. There could potentially be players in this squad who achieve that, after all, before stepping out for Wales against Australia earlier this month, the only time James had been exposed to crowds of 40 000 plus was on the Sevens circuit last season. That was undoubtedly a vital cog in his development as a big stage player."

Wales 7s Squad
Richie Pugh (c), Lee Beach, Gareth Chapman, Jonathan Edwards, James Harris, Thomas James, Alec Jenkins, Rhodri McAtee, Richard Mustoe, Tal Selley, Aled Thomas, Martyn Thomas, Lee Williams.

 

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