As in the USA, however, it was a feat they were unable to repeat for the rest of the tournament, despite pushing Fiji all the way in their first pool fixture on Saturday. In that 26-19 match, Ospreys youngster Caine Woolerton scored his second World Rugby Sevens Series try, while captain Luke Treharne and Daf Smith also touched down.
Buoyed by going so close to claiming a big scalp, Wales were able to do just that in their second game, against top-six side France. In crossing against the French, Dragons’ James Benjamin and Pontypool’s Lloyd Lewis became Wales’ joint-second top try-scorers this season, with another Ospreys rookie, Callum Carson, also contributing a try in the 21-19 win.
A game against the hosts to see out Pool B was always going to be a formidable prospect, and so it proved as eventual bronze medallists Canada ran out 29-7 winners – Will Thomas the sole try-scorer for Wales.
There was little joy in Vancouver on Sunday for Darren Edwards’s men as Kenya won 28-0, and their final match of the tournament was a 31-7 loss to Argentina, in which Treharne scored all seven points.
Wales now have two months and a half before they take the field again in the World Rugby Sevens Series at Twickenham, where they will hope to have experienced heads such as Ben Roach (who missed out here due to injury) back in their ranks. ​
