As Wales move towards the possibility of conquering Europe on the field, it’s worth noting that this week represents a dozen years since the country planted its flag on top of the world. The year was 2009, the version was sevens, and the lack of recognition has been criminal, says Fraser Watson.
It was a landmark moment in the history of Welsh rugby – or at least it should have been.
In March 2009, the story of a nation’s only World Cup triumph unfolded in Dubai. From being 80-1 outsiders, a Wales sevens side coached by Paul John dramatically defeated Argentina in a tournament final few envisaged them even getting near.
However, the achievement was no fluke. Under John, a group had been building.
In the IRB Series event that preceded the World Cup, Wales beat New Zealand in Wellington.
In Dubai, they repeated the feat in the quarter finals, before overcoming Samoa and avenging a pool defeat against the Pumas in a glorious finale – a late Aled Thomas try sealing a 19-12 win.
This summary amounts to a very condensed narrative of course, and yet, although this week marks 12 years since this remarkable triumph materialised, it’s one that very few supporters in a supposedly rugby-obsessed country can associate with.
Indeed, names like Rhys Webb, Richie Pugh, Aled Brew, and Tal Selley, mainly stir memories for being capped at 15-a-side level.
Similar to the afore mentioned Thomas, you may be familiar with Rhodri McAtee, Lee Williams, Tom Isaacs, James Merriman, Craig Hill or Dafydd Hewitt, depending on how closely you’ve followed club or regional rugby.
World Cup winning captain Lee Beach? Hardly a name embedded in Welsh rugby folklore.
All the above individuals compiled the squad that seemingly did the impossible, and yet, there are dismaying branches to what should be a story of celebration.
For that 2009 triumph not only represents a tale of toppling the world, but one of neglect and missed opportunity.
Conquering the elite wasn’t viewed as a potential springboard by the WRU for further success on the sevens circuit, or as a vehicle to further develop talent in the manner that other countries have done so effectively.
Instead, it was the signal to end on a high what many regarded as a frivolous waste of time.
The aftermath prompted almost as much resentment towards the chosen 12 as it did praise.
Selley, player of the tournament in Dubai, along with Brew, returned to the Dragons for coach Paul Turner to tell them their days “of flying to exotic locations were over”.
The majority of the remainder were forbidden from going to Adelaide and Hong Kong in the IRB series tournaments that followed.
Merriman, by then embroiled in a legal dispute with Neath RFC after they tried to renege on an agreement for him to go to Dubai, became unattached before Bristol offered salvation.
Organised celebrations were limited to players walking awkwardly around the Millennium Stadium at half time of the Wales v Ireland Six Nations game.
Family members didn’t even feature on the invitations.
When 2019 marked the ten year anniversary, acknowledgment amounted to little more than a well done tweet from the WRU account.
WRU dumping Wales 7s team ☹️ we were world champions just a decade ago! But WRU will still be involved in plans for a GB 7s team at olympics – an event Wales doesnt even compete in as a nation. Would it be asking too nuch for WRU to put the Welsh nation first? @WelshRugbyUnion https://t.co/fNWnJ4YXjK
— Wales@TheUnitedNations (@WalesAtTheUN) August 28, 2020
Merriman has since recalled the surrealist circumstances that followed.
“The sad thing for me is I went to those tournaments (Adelaide and Hong Kong) and was captain as I was left as one of the most experienced,” he said.
“We had eight or nine new faces and it was like we’d won the World Cup then gone back to the beginning. The WRU should have put a group of boys on full time sevens contracts there and then – I’d have signed one.”
Fast forward 12 years and WRU emphasis on the sevens scene is at a minimum.
It’s become a platform whereby Premiership semi-pro players are sent to make up numbers – where out of favour regional squad members are packed off for game time.
Wales currently stand 15th in the IRB rankings – 20 ranking points off Spain above them, and three clear of Japan behind.
The conversion rate of those who have worn red in the shortened form of the game, and proceeded to be capped in the 15-a-side team, remains impressive.
But the stat belies the reality – the majority of those in this category have fleetingly dipped into the sevens circuit with a tournament or two to their name.
James ‘cubby’ Davies and in the women’s game, Jasmine Joyce, remain genuine exceptions who markedly progressed after a prolonged period on the circuit.
With WRU finances ever precarious, it’s inconceivable that the additional focus and support required to arrest the steady slide in sevens performance since 2009 will materialise.
The Covid-19 pandemic – and it’s squeezing further of the bank balance – will see to that.
But what isn’t quite so fathomable, is a nation’s ignorance towards an achievement that stands alone.
The legacy of John’s squad could have been one that paved the way for Welsh rugby to reap the benefits of the global sevens circuit.
Instead, it’s a tale of forgotten heroes – of 12 men who had to be content with a pat on the back as opposed to much reward or recognition.
No-one can ever take away from them the night they conquered the world.
Sadly, nor can anyone deny the achievement has been left to go to waste.
