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Nazvi Careem

DESPITE making a sensational debut at the 1990 Hongkong Sevens, Wales still need to find their sevens feet.

 Rupert Moon, skipper of the Welsh President's Seven, said his side will be the underdogs against seasoned sevens nation Canada in Pool B.

 Canada have been made favourites to win the group, which also includes Papua New Guinea.

 Wales caused the biggest upset of the 1990 tournament, beating Australia in the semi-finals.

 But Moon, who represented the Barbarians last year, says his side are still in their sevens infancy.

 ''We could have played a lot more tournaments to prepare for Hongkong,'' said the 25-year-old scrum-half. ''But with our league structure in Wales and the Five Nations, there was not enough time to fit in some proper sevens preparations.

 ''We have a few players who have sevens experience with, like the Crawshays or the Public Schools Wanderers.

 ''But I think it's fair that Canada are the favourites to win the group. They are a good side and have done well at international sevens.''  Although the Welsh are fielding several international players, including speedster Nigel Walker, Scott Gibbs and Mark Perego, they are not playing as a national side.

 When the Welsh Rugby Union first accepted an invitation to the Hongkong event, they decided to send a national side but changed their minds later on.

 Said Moon: ''I don't see the reasoning in calling it a President's XV. We have a reasonable side here.

 ''The selectors probably want to keep their options open before the World Cup Sevens.''  Moon made his first appearance of the season for Wales in their Five Nations loss to France at Parc des Princes last Saturday.

 In that side were Hongkong Sevens player Nigel Walker, a former Welsh hurdling champion, who made his debut by scoring a try.

 Moon rates his experiences at the 1991 Hongkong Sevens as one of his best moments in rugby alongside his selection to the Wales squad.

 Playing for a powerful Barbarians side that year, Moon kicked two conversions from each touch-line, sending the crowd wild on both occasions.

 ''It was a tremendous moment,'' he said. ''We had a good side out with England internationals Will Carling and Jeremy Guscott.

 ''But nobody wanted to take the conversions, so it was left up to me. I kicked conversions from either touch-line and the crowd went berserk.''  He said that players will be doing their best to impress in Hongkong to secure their places for the World Cup Sevens in Scotland.

   Should Wales upset the seedings and reach the Cup quarter-finals, they are likely to come up against defending champions Fiji.

 They have been drawn in the same group as Fiji for the World Cup, along with South Africa, Romania, Japan and Latvia.



Welsh are still learning