TEAM WALES AND THE WELSH RUGBY UNION ANNOUNCE RUGBY 7’S CONTINGENT

The squad will travel to compete in two IRB Sevens tournaments at the end of this year in Dubai and Georgetown, South Africa. The team will also return to the famous Hong Kong Sevens tournament on their way home from the Games.

Wales Sevens coach David Rees said: “I feel we have a very strong squad of players from which to select our final Commonwealth Games squad. There is a mix of experienced Sevens players and exciting young talent who will gain a huge amount from this experience.”

WRU High Performance Manager Mostyn Richards said:  “Sevens rugby forms an important part of our High Performance Strategy as we move forward and we are delighted to be part of Team Wales in next year’s Commonwealth Games. We have worked closely with the four Regions and the National Team Management in the selection of the preliminary group of players and despite the Games taking place during the Six Nations Championship, we are confident of taking a highly competitive team.”
The Commonwealth Games competition is set to coincide with the 2006 Six Nations tournament, where many of the Welsh Grand Slam 2005 winners will line-up to defend their crowns. The final sevens squad of twelve will be announced early next year, and Team Wales Director of Operations, David Evans said:

“We are delighted that the WRU have been able to source a strong and talented initial squad of players who we are confident have the ability to progress to the final stages of the sevens competition next year. Competing within the highly charged atmosphere of Telstra Dome at the heart of the Games, will no doubt inspire our team in what promises to be a closely contested competition.”


TEAM COACH David Rees  TEAM MANAGER   David Jenkins
PLAYERS:
Gareth BABER (Dragons)    Jamie RINGER (Dragons)
Matthew WATKINS (Scarlets)    Tal SELLEY (Scarlets)
Gareth WYATT (Dragons)    Aled GRAVELLE (Scarlets)
James MERRIMAN (Gloucester)    Richie PUGH (Ospreys)
Andrew WILLIAMS (Bath)    Jonny VAUGHTON (OSPREYS)
Richard FUSSELL (Dragons)    Gareth WILLIAMS (Carmarthen Quins)
James HOOK (Ospreys)     Matthew NUTHALL (Blues)
Lee BEECH (Ospreys)     Emyr LEWIS (Bedford)
Jonathan EDWARDS (Scarlets)    Rhys OAKLEY (Dragons)
Rhodri DAVIES (Northampton Saints)   Cerion THOMAS (Scarlets)  
Rhodri McATEE (Penzanze)
Darren DANIEL (Scarlets)