Wales Sevens head coach Richie Pugh is hoping last week’s hit outs against regular foes Scotland and England will be the boost his squad needs heading into next week’s round of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series in Singapore.

Wales returned to the world series in January on the back of just two weeks preparation. The hope is for Wales to hit the ground running in the fifth leg of the world series next week in Singapore after inviting England and Scotland to take part in a two day training session at Principality Stadium.

“It’s been about nine weeks without game time because of Vancouver and Los Angeles being cancelled because of Covid restrictions – so it’s been a long time since Seville so we need game time and a proper hit out so these training games against Scotland and England have been brilliant for Singapore,” said Pugh.

“We only had two weeks prep going into Malaga last time, but we get more out of these two days playing live competition – the boys get to feel and taste it. They’re not learning on day one of competition – they get to taste it two weeks out and that’s why it is great we can replicate some form of competition.”

Teams frequently organise impromptu training sessions against each other while on the world series circuit but last week’s two-dayer has proved invaluable for Pugh’s preparations.

“It depends how quick the turnaround is and often when you are away we will have what we call a scragg hit-out which is kind of non-contact based but what’s been brilliant about these two days with England and Scotland – it’s been a full hit, it’s been refereed and we’re trying to replicate the competition intensity with the breaks in between sessions and it’s an opportunity to see our boys that have dropped in from U20s, we’ve also got new boys who have dropped in from the regions – and these two days gives us an opportunity to see those players,” explained Pugh.

Pugh was encouraged with his team’s efforts in the two previous rounds in Spain even if results weren’t forthcoming.

“We learnt there is still huge potential within Wales and the youngsters from a sevens point of view, this is a great platform to learn and develop – which it always has been, and I am quite passionate about that. Sevens exposes boys in different ways maybe they’re not getting in XVs and that’s why it’s such a good tool to see some of these youngsters go up against it,” he said.

Wales will face Scotland, Argentina and New Zealand who return to the circuit for the first time in over two years.

“It’s a huge challenge ahead,” said Pugh, “It’s exciting as we’re in a pool with Scotland, Argentina who are firing at the moment and New Zealand who are back in it. It’s a great opportunity to travel again to Singapore and it’s going to be a tough challenge.”

Further down the track, Wales will be taking part in the Commonwealth Games in the summer and some of the players may have one eye on that, Pugh is focusing on the present.

“It’s great the Commonwealth Games are in the United Kingdom in Birmingham, and it is something we really want to target, we have done in the past and this year is no different.

“It’s exciting that we can begin developing and building towards that but it is very much a case of the players are concentrating on the World Series and fighting for their spot on the squad – we’ve got a selection headache and this is what these two days have proved.”

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series – Singapore Leg – April 9-10 National Stadium

Pool C
Wales v Scotland (3.44am Sat)
Wales v Argentina (7.12am Sat)
Wales v New Zealand (10.06am Sat)