Jim Botham – grandson of Sir Ian – is poised to make his debut for the Wales Sevens squad in New Zealand next week.
Teenager Botham, who joined the Cardiff Blues last season, has been named by Wales for the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series in Wellington next weekend (28th-29th January).
The 18-year-old joins Elliot Frewen, 29, as the two newcomers named in head coach Gareth Williams’s group, which has reached the semi-finals and quarter-finals of the first two rounds of the season.
Botham is a former Wales U18 international, who was born in Wales when his father Liam was playing rugby for Cardiff. He has had Lions captain and fellow flanker Sam Warburton as his mentor at the Arms Park.
Known as ‘Jimbo’ to both Liam and Sir Ian, he played for Wales U18 against England, Italy and Scotland last season when both dad and grandad were in attendance.
Newport winger Frewen was named the 2016 Singha Premiership Rugby 7s Player of the Series.
Also returning to the squad is Newport Gwent Dragons’ James Benjamin, who last featured for Wales Sevens in their Bowl-winning match against Australia in Twickenham last summer.
“These two new caps are part of the strategy to build depth moving towards next year’s Commonwealth Games and Rugby World Cup Sevens,” says Williams.
“James Botham’s selection supports the work we’re trying to do in developing players with regions. He’s a very promising players for Cardiff Blues. He’s trained hard and has earned his opportunity in Wellington.”
Frewen has previously featured for Wales on the European circuit, and Williams says he is pleased to see him getting his shot on the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series.
“Elliot has got a really good pedigree on the invitational sevens series, and he’s been part of the development group [assistant coach] Richie Pugh set up at start of season. It’s a fantastic opportunity for him. He’s an exciting player, very elusive. Hopefully he’ll get the chance to showcase that in Wellington.”
After a positive start to 2016/17, Williams says the aim is to continue to build on their early-season achievements.
“We’ve very much set ourselves long-term goals, but to start the way we did with semi- and quarter-final finishes in Dubai and Cape Town was way ahead of expectations when you consider how young this group is,” Williams explains. “But next weekend is an excellent opportunity for us in New Zealand. We’ve had a good training block over Christmas and the New Year, which will hopefully be reflected on the pitch in Wellington.”
Wales’ Pool D in Wellington includes Scotland, Canada and Russia.
Wales Sevens squad for Wellington Sevens
Owen Lane (Cardiff Blues)
Morgan Williams (Ospreys)
Steffan Andrews (Aberavon)
Elliot Frewen (Newport)
Owen Jenkins
Tom Williams (Ospreys)
Ethan Davies
Lloyd Evans
Adam Thomas
Sam Cross (Capt)
James Botham (Cardiff Blues)
Ben Roach
James Benjamin (Newport Gwent Dragons)
Matthew Owen (Scarlets)
