The Wales Sevens team were tonight named BBC Cymru Wales team of the year, after becoming Rugby World Cup Sevens champions in March.
Lee Beach, who captained the team to glory in Dubai said, “It’s great that our achievement at the Rugby World Cup Sevens put Wales on the map again and it’s also great to receive recognition from inside Wales in terms of this Team of the Year award.
“We produced a spectacle for Wales to be proud of and we’ll never forget the experience.
“Our victory has done a lot for Sevens in Wales – seven of the side currently competing in Dubai and George, plus Darren Daniels who didn’t travel this time are now contracted as core Sevens players which is a step up from where we were last year.”
Lee Williams, who is now a regular in the Scarlets side following the Sevens success added, “Sevens certainly helps you to develop as a fifteen a side player. I’ve certainly seen the benefit of our RWC success in terms of my position in the Scarlets squad – albeit as a wing!
“Sevens gives you different skills from the fifteen a side game but they are skills that can be transferred to the professional game.”
Wales’ most capped rugby player, Wales Women wing Louise Rickard, was one of the nominees for BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year.
Rickard, who won her 109th cap against Sweden last month, was involved in Wales Women’s first victory over England last February and in the side’s Triple Crown win.
She said, “It’s amazing to have been named amongst such prestigious sports personalities. Our team has been really successful during the last couple of years and this nomination was certainly recognition for the whole team.
“We have a tough season coming up with the World Cup at the end of it. Our goal is to win the tournament despite being in the Pool of death with South Africa, New Zealand and Australia. I’m working very hard at the moment to have a chance of being involved in the world cup, there are certainly no guarantees.”
