Coach Rhys Edwards has quietly gone about the business of creating a competitive side with one eye on next year’s World Cup in Russia in mind. However to reach the showpiece event next June Wales have to ensure qualification first – with this weekend’s warm-up tournament a vital step towards that goal.
The Welsh side will face the daunting prospect of taking on South Africa, USA and England but with Wales Six Nations backs Charlie Murray, Rebecca de Filippo, Elen Evans, Philippa Tuttiett, Laura Prosser and Rosie Fletcher featuring in the side, Wales don’t lack for firepower.
Sian Williams and Rachel Taylor also figured in Wales’ Six Nations campaign while Elinor Snowsill returns to international duty for the first time since returning from travelling the world.
Promising trio Jade Phillips, Cerys Ballett and Rachel Rees complete the Welsh side. Phillips is a Welsh Uni 7s representative and is in the long squad for the GB Student 7s side while both Ballett and Rees earned selection after eye-catching performances in the recently held UK School Games where the duo were in the victorious Dragons side which won the Bowl.
There will also be another warm-up tournament in Richmond next weekend at the Rugby Rocks tournament as Wales prepare for the FIRA European Sevens Championship, to be staged on June 9-10th in Bulgaria.
Competition is extremely tight for the World Cup and only the top two teams go through to then attend the actual World Cup qualifying tournament in Moscow (June 30th).
Simultaneously there is also another qualifying tournament in Belgium at the same time where another two teams will be hoping to advance their claims. All eventual qualifiers then travel to Moscow for the final tournament for qualification.
