Wales Sevens coach Paul John has received the considerable boost of being able to select six of his Rugby World Cup Sevens champions among a squad of 12 to compete in the final two events of the IRB Sevens World Series, in London on 23-24 May and Edinburgh on 30-31 May.
Captain Lee Beach returns for the first time since that memorable night in Dubai and is joined by James Merriman, Craig Hill, Tal Selley, Tom Isaacs and Aled Thomas, who scored the winning try in the World Cup final against Argentina in March.
The six players left for London with the rest of the Wales Sevens squad on Wednesday to prepare for the two-day event at Twickenham. Scarlets back Lee Williams will replace Hill as the sixth Melrose Cup holder at Murrayfield a week later.
Two players make their international Sevens debuts - Cornish Pirates pivot Rhys Jones, son of Sale Sharks Director of Rugby Kingsley, and Pontypool scrum half Tom Edwards.
Will Harries, Ifan Evans, Rhys Shellard and Jevon Groves have all gained match time on the circuit this season and will continue their development at the UK tournaments.
"It has been difficult to get back into Sevens training at the end of a long season for the players and coaches. However, we have trained hard over the last couple of weeks and we will do everything we can to be competitive at these two tournaments," said coach Paul John.
"We have a tough pool at both events, starting with South Africa, Australia and Germany at Twickenham. South Africa are Series leaders and hot favourites for the title, we haven't beaten South Africa or Australia all season and Germany are an unknown to us.
"We will have to be at our best to get out of that Pool and gain some important tournament points to end the season on a high.
"We know we are capable of beating anyone on our day, as we did at the World Cup and our defence will have to be as water-tight as in Dubai if we are going to make it to the last eight.
"It is great that some of our young players can benefit from playing with our more seasoned internationals in these two tournaments. I'm sure they will gain a great deal out of the experience."
Wales Sevens squad for London and Edinburgh Sevens:
Lee Beach (capt, Neath), James Merriman (unattached), Rhys Shellard (Cardiff), Jevon Groves (Cross Keys), Craig Hill (Newport, LONDON ONLY), Tom Edwards (Pontypool, LONDON ONLY), Aled Thomas (London Welsh), Tom Isaacs (Newport), Rhys Jones (Cornish Pirates), Tal Selley (Dragons), Will Harries (Northampton Saints), Ifan Evans (Llandovery), Jimmy Norris (Bedwas / Dragons, EDINBURGH ONLY), Lee Williams (Scarlets, EDINBURGH ONLY)
