Wales call up two Test players to Commonwealth Games sevens squad

Wales Sevens have named two former Test players, Tyler Morgan and Sam Cross, in their 13-man squad to compete at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham later this month.

Centre Morgan earned the last of his five Wales caps against Tonga in 2018, having previously played at the 2015 World Cup, while Ospreys flanker Cross won his two Wales caps in November 2017 against Georgia and Australia.

The 29-year-old Cross brings a wealth of experience to the squad, having won a silver medal in the 2016 Rio Olympics representing Great Britain.

The tournament will be held at the Coventry Stadium, home of Wasps, between July 29-31.

Head of sevens Richie Pugh said: “It’s been a tough selection process. The squad is based mostly around boys who have been involved in our World Sevens campaign, adding the experience of Olympic silver medallist Sam Cross from the Ospreys and we’ve also kept Tyler Morgan after the Toulouse and London legs. Their pedigree certainly adds great value to the squad. There were some tough calls but that’s international sport, that’s the competitive environment we want to create."

Wales have been drawn in Pool C alongside Olympic gold medalists Fiji, Canada and Zambia. Looking at their opposition, Pugh said: “It’s always good to play new teams. We have a bit of a rivalry with Canada at the moment on the World Series, Fiji are familiar foes too, we know they’re world class sevens players but that’s why we do this, we want to play best in world. It all starts with Canada in our first game. They are a strong, physical team but it’s important we start well. We have one more competition before Birmingham, so hopefully we can cause some problems in our Pool."

Wales Squad

Luke Treharne (Wales Sevens)

Tyler Morgan (Unattached)

Morgan Sieniawski (Wales Sevens)

Sam Cross (Ospreys)

Tom Brown (Wales Sevens )

Callum Williams (Scarlets)

Owen Jenkins (Unattached)

Tom Williams (Wales Sevens)

Morgan Williams (Wales Sevens)

Cole Swannack (Newport)

Lloyd Lewis (Wales Sevens)

Ewan Rosser (Dragons)

Callum Carson (Aberavon)