Young Wales primed for mission to Moscow

Four of the players have had a taste of the World Rugby Sevens Series this season – Chay Smith (Newport), Afon Bagshaw (RGC), Mike Wilson and Jacob Flynn (both Aberavon) – with regional academy and college players also included.
 
Richie Pugh, who heads up the coaching team for the Rugby Europe tournament, said: “It’s a young, fresh group with a good mix of players which will allow us to build strength in depth.
 
“We’ve had a congested schedule this season, what with the Commonwealth Games, the World Series in two weeks’ time and a World Cup to come, so this is a timely opportunity to expose these youngsters to top-level sevens in Europe.”
 
Pugh added that for players such as Matthew Powell (Cross Keys), Iwan Evans (Neath) and Toby Fricker (Ebbw Vale), their inclusion was reward for a good season in the Principality Premiership. Glantaf’s Jay Jones and Cardiff and Vale College’s Max Cunnington were in action for Team GB U18 earlier this month in Lithuania.
 
For academy players Gethin Davies (Scarlets) and Corey Howells (Cardiff Blues), Pugh called the Grand Prix Series “another stepping stone in their development”.
 
“We’ll be taking on England and Spain out in Moscow – two teams with World Series experience,” said Pugh. “Italy are also in our pool, so it should be a very interesting challenge for this group of players.”
 
Wales finished last season’s Grand Prix Series in fourth position, bringing through a host of players that would go on to feature regularly on the World Series.
 
Wales Sevens fixtures in Moscow, Saturday 19th May: Wales v England (08:22 BST); Wales v Italy (11:07); Spain v Wales (13:52). Watch the action live on the Rugby Europe website. 
 
Wales Sevens: Chay Smith (Newport) Gethin Davies (Scarlets) Afon Bagshaw (c) (RGC) Corey Howells (Cardiff Blues) Toby Fricker (Ebbw Vale) Jacob Flynn (Aberavon) Bevan Howells (Cowbridge) Iwan Evans (Neath) Matthew Powell (Cross Keys) Jay Jones (Glantaf) Mike Wilson (Aberavon) Max Cunnington (Cardiff and Vale College)