The all day event will see all 12 Principality Premiership sides plus Ebbw Vale, Bargoed, RGC 1404 and a Wales Students side bid to be the first team to take home the trophy.
The top four teams from last season’s Principality Premiership were seeded for the competition’s draw, double winners Pontypridd drawn against Neath in a mouth-watering fixture to start the day.
Llandovery and Llanelli were drawn against SWALEC Championship sides Bargoed and Ebbw Vale respectively, while Bedwas face fellow Premiership side Aberavon.
Elsewhere, Wales Students play Carmarthen Quins in what should be a highly competitive fixture. The Quins have Welsh speedsters Jason Harries and Iolo Evans amongst their squad with the Students boasting sevens specialists Sam Cross and Luke Treharne as their main attacking options.
In the other first round matches, Bridgend play Cross Keys – who will be coached by former Wales Sevens captain Jevon Groves, hosts Cardiff play Newport and Swansea take on North Wales outfit RGC 1404.
Despite taking home both the league and cup titles last year as well as fielding three Wales Sevens internationals on Sunday, Pontypridd are still expecting to meet some tough opposition.
“This will be a different challenge for us, a new experience at club level and one that we look forward to,” said team manager Richard Langmead.
“We can’t claim to be favourites for the title, we have to turn up and justify our inclusion as contenders. All the clubs will be up for it and a strong squad from north Wales will also take some beating.
“We will hopefully be competitive whilst enjoying the whole experience of the day.”
Pontypridd’s 12 man squad includes internationals Rhys Shellard, Alex Webber, Gavin Dacey and Owen Jenkins while centre Garyn Smith and scrum half Tom Williams both feature after returning from the Wales Under 18 tour of South Africa.
The meeting between the Students and the Quins is also sure to provide plenty of entertainment. Cross leads the Students side with his experience of the IRB circuit with Wales a huge boost to his side.
And if the Cardiff Met student can repeat his international heroics – he scored the final try to help Wales beat Kenya 19-0 in the semi-final in Hong Kong in March, the Students may well be in with a chance.
“I’m not sure there could be a tougher opening game to be honest,” said Wales Students team manager Adrian Evans.
“Carmarthen have got players with international sevens experience as well as Chris Banfield who played sevens for GB Students last year.
“There’s no doubt it will be a challenge but one of our advantages is that all 12 of our players are regular sevens players.
“Ollie Williams, Will Lewis and Dai Treharne have all won the Rossyln Park Sevens in the past so we’re hopeful of getting off to a winning start.”
After the opening eight games are complete, the winners of those encounters will continue into the Cup quarter-finals, while the losers will go into a knock-out Plate competition.
Wales Sevens head coach Paul John is looking forward to the day.
He said: “The beauty of this competition is that the standard will be good throughout the day.
“This is the first time our top Sevens players have had a chance to play against each other in a competitive, pre-season tournament so from a selector’s point of view, that is a prospect we are all relishing ahead of the international sevens season. It also means there will be a lot of unknown entities until we get into the day itself.
John is also hoping this event, taking place on the new artificial pitch at Cardiff Arms Park, will spark new interest in sevens rugby in Wales.
“We have travelled with Wales Sevens sides to IRB Series tournaments around the world, witnessing some of the biggest crowds and best carnival atmospheres in world rugby. The likes of the Dubai, Hong Kong and Wellington Sevens are magnificent global events to be involved with and that is something we would like to strive to achieve in Wales.
“The Welsh Rugby Union will bid to host Rugby World Cup Sevens in 2018 which is a mark of the importance that is placed on the game and on creating big sevens events for rugby supporters in Wales.”
One of the great names of Welsh Sevens rugby, Collin Hillman, will be honoured at the event, with the Foster’s Sevens Player of the Tournament award set up in his name.
Off the field of play there will be something for everyone with the use of a hot tub available for the winners of a fancy dress competition, live music, a kids activity area and much more. The first game kicks off at 10.20 with the final scheduled for 6.30pm.
Tickets are just £10 for adults, £5 for Under 16s and £20 for a family ticket (2 adults, 2 children). Go to www.wru.co.uk/nationalsevens to purchase tickets with a free print off at home option. Tickets can also be purchased on the day from the WRU shop, 8 Westgate Street and from the Cardiff Arms Park Ticket Office.
Order of play for Round 1 matches:
Game 1 Pontypridd v Neath 1020 hrs
GAME 2 Welsh Students v Carmarthen 1040 hrs
GAME 3 Bridgend v Cross Keys 1100 hrs
GAME 4 Bedwas v Aberavon 1120 hrs
GAME 5 Llandovery v Bargoed 1140 hrs
GAME 6 Cardiff v Newport 1200 hrs
GAME 7 Swansea v RGC 1404 1220 hrs
GAME 8 Ebbw Vale v Llanelli 1240 hrs
