In an emotionally charged Hong Kong Stadium, the Welsh squad played in honour of their team mate Ifan Evans whose career has been dramatically cut short with a neck injury. Paul John’s men marched to the final with a rousing 28-14 win over Canada in the quarter-final before brushing aside Kenya 19-0 in the semi-final.
In an outstanding final, Wales took the game to the South Sea Islanders from the outset where Cardiff Blues centre Cory Allen proved the chief tormentor with two first half tries where he used his speed, guile, bulk and trickery to perfection. Ystrad Rhondda wing Alex Webber scored in the corner and with Rhys Jones adding two conversions, Wales were in control at the break.
But the introduction of Kolinisau turned the match on its head. His speed and inventiveness turned the course of the game with two quickfire tries. He added a third late on to seal a comeback that had looked highly unlikely after a first half in which Wales had made all the running and Fiji a raft of unforced errors.
Wales’ ability to reach the final is being seen as evidence of the importance of the abbreviated game in the WRU’s elite player pathway structure.
WRU Head of Rugby, Joe Lydon, congratulated the team on their supreme effort and praised them for showcasing the Welsh international sevens game at its best.
‘’I must congratulate all the coaching staff and the players for a series of excellent performances at one of the most high profile competitions in the world sevens game,” he said.
“The series of victories they achieved displays the value of the sevens game within our performance structures and shows how potential Welsh senior international players are nurtured and improved by taking part at this level.
“They refine valuable rugby skills and also experience playing the game in front of huge crowds with all the added atmosphere and tension that provides.
“The number of sevens players who have gone on to represent Wales at senior level is a credit to our structure and the level of coaching skill the players experience.
“In the RBS 6 Nations Championship decider at the Millennium Stadium we all saw Justin Tipuric display skills which would have been a credit to any centre and I am certain that as a back row forward he learnt much of that within his Wales sevens background.
“Now we have youngsters such as Cory Allen benefitting from the experience and it all bodes well for Welsh rugby in the future.
“I am delighted with the performances I have seen being delivered in Hong Kong and the overall standard of play has been excellent. To reach the final and perform so well was an outstanding achievement the whole country can be proud of.”
