Lodz 7s was due to take place last season, but has been pushed back due to the recent Rugby World Cup Sevens. “Preparations have been different because of the timing of this competition,” explained coach Richie Pugh, “and it’s meant that some boys who have been regulars in our development group miss out due to Principality Premiership commitments.
“However, it gives an opportunity to, and rewards, the boys that have turned up to all our development and Rugby Europe training sessions.”
WHERE TO WATCH: Lodz 7s will be streamed live on the Rugby Europe website.
Captaining the side is Wizards scrum-half Jacob Flynn, who enjoyed some high-profile sevens exposure last season. “Aberavon’s support for the boys has been great, and it’s nice to have Flynny’s World Series experience within the group,” said Pugh.
Another inclusion is that of sprint athlete Gareth Hopkins, a multiple Welsh athletics champion. It will be the first international sevens outing for Hopkins, and Pugh is interested to see what the 100m and 200m specialist is capable of. “Gareth’s fresh to high-level rugby, but with that background it’ll good to see what he can do on the field. He wants to give rugby a real go after a successful athletics career, and he’s been applying himself well in training.”
Lying in wait for Wales in Lodz will be three teams who have been making waves in Rugby Europe: Germany, Russia and hosts Poland. “Russia in particular have a lot at stake in terms of World Series qualification, so with points being up for grabs they’re going in fully loaded,” explained Pugh. “It will be a good challenge for our boys to step up against them. We’ll make no bones about it: this will be a tough weekend. We’ve got a lot of inexperience but it bodes well in terms of what these players can gain from it.”
Wales Sevens: Iwan Evans (Neath), Matthew Cross (Brynmawr), George Maxfield (Penallta), Gethin Davies (Carmarthen Quins), Loui O’Brien (Caerleon), Jacob Flynn (captain, Aberavon), Ioan Lewis, Tony Lamerton (Cardiff Met), Jay Jones, Jack Forrest (Worthing/Welsh Exiles), Gareth Hopkins, Max Cunnington.
Pool fixtures (Saturday 8th September): Wales v Germany (10:28 BST), Wales v Poland (13:35), Russia v Wales (15:58).
