WRU revive national Sevens tournament in Wales

The Sevens game is set to receive a major boost in Wales after the WRU announced a new day-long knockout tournament at Cardiff Arms Park to replace the defunct Snelling Sevens.

Featuring the best club teams in the country, the WRU National Sevens will be competed for the first time on Sunday, August 25.

It will be contested by teams from all 12 semi-professional Principality Premiership clubs, the two top SWALEC Championship teams from this season, RGC 1404 and the Wales Students sevens team.

It is hoped it will showcase the sevens game in Wales and help boost support and participation in that form of the game.

Wales are the current Rugby World Cup Sevens champions, defending their title at the 2013 RWC Sevens in Moscow in June, and the format is due to feature at the next Olympic Games in Rio, along with the existing Commonwealth Games involvement.

The WRU National Sevens competition will be an annual event in the Welsh rugby calendar and will have substantial prize money. It will feature a Cup and Plate competition, with the first-round losers taking part in the second tier tournament.

Such an event has not existed since the mid-1990s when the Snelling Sevens was last competed. That competition was in place from 1954 to 1995 and attracted huge crowds at its peak when it was hosted at the same venue.

WRU head of rugby Joe Lydon said: “We are delighted to be able to announce this important new competition which will showcase the sevens game at a time when it is growing in popularity.

“The success of the HSBC Sevens World Series and [the format’s] inclusion in the Olympic Games has attracted a new wave of interest and the time is right for supporters in Wales to get to see the game played by some of our best players.

“Many of the Wales Sevens squad are Premiership players, and they regularly face the best teams in the world game.

“Sevens is an area of rugby where some of our most skilful players can develop their talents and create some incredible plays. You only have to look at our current senior international squad to see how important sevens is for player development.

“The likes of Alex Cuthbert, Justin Tipuric, Lloyd Williams, James Hook, Jamie Roberts and Aaron Shingler have all benefitted from international sevens as a key part of their rugby development.

“Many Welsh rugby fans will remember the days of the Snelling Sevens and this new competition will offer them the chance to enjoy some great summer rugby once more here in Wales.”