Olympic silver medallist Sam Cross has challenged all the Principality Premiership players competing at the National Foster’s 7s on Sunday to grab the opportunity with both hands.
Cross was a student at Cardiff Met in 2013 when he represented a Wales Students side in the first Foster’s tournament. He was spotted by Paul John and Gareth Williams and immediately fast tracked into the Wales Sevens set-up. The rest, as they say, is history.
“Representing Wales Students in the first Foster’s 7s, we beat a good Carmarthen Quins team in Round One, then played Pontypridd. I had a good tournament, and within a week, Paul John and Gareth Williams got in touch and the next thing I knew I was on my way to Middelburg in South Africa with Wales Sevens.
“That was in 2013 and I went on to play for Team GB in Rio so with four years to Tokyo, this is the perfect opportunity for players to impress. The national coaches will be at the Arms Park on Sunday looking ahead at the coming season, and the next two year cycle leading to the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast starting with Dubai in December.”
Cross missed out on selection for the Glasgow Commonwealth Games in 2014, and admits that spurred him on to work harder.
“After not making that squad, I knuckled down with Newport in the Premiership. I grafted hard to get another opportunity with Wales Sevens and played in every tournament since, bar London this year. I think that experience gave me the edge I needed to get into Team GB.”
Cross is about to enjoy a well-earned holiday after returning from South America. “It’s been such a memorable experience, and great to come home and hear how people enjoyed watching us during the Olympics. It was good to get back to Brynmawr and see how much everyone there shared in our performances too.”
With rugby sevens one of the success stories at the recent Olympic Games, the Welsh public can experience the action-packed, fast-paced game for themselves on Sunday when the 16 Principality Premiership sides compete for the fourth Foster’s 7s title. The four regional women’s sides will also fight it out for the women’s national sevens title at the BT Sport Cardiff Arms Park – with the day long event kicking off at 9.30am.
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