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Lewis Evans of Newport and the Dragons

DRAGONS' number 8 Lewis Evans looks set to make his international sevens debut for Wales this weekend in the opening session of the prestigious Hong Kong Sevens, the fifth tournament in the 2007/08 World Series.

Evans joins his more experienced sevens colleagues from the Dragons, James and Robert Lewis and James Harris, all of whom have tasted action on the world circuit.

All of the Dragons could be involved in the opening session of the three-day tournament tonight when Wales face Zimbabwe with hopes of making a big impact against the east Africans in the first of three crucial pool matches.

"Zimbabwe's form is really unknown but they are usually very physical and very similar to South Africa. And they have great pride in their sevens ability" said Wales coach Gareth Baber.

"The first game in the Hong Kong tournament is always very difficult.

"The key for us is securing possession and that means being aggressive at the breakdown.

"They'll have pace so we have to close them down quickly," Baber said.

The Hong Kong tournament, unlike the seven others in the IRB World Sevens circuit, has a unique 24-team format and is played over three days, with one game tonight and two tomorrow to complete the pool rounds before the knock-out stages on Sunday.

Qualification for the cup quarter finals is tough with the winners of each of the six groups automatically qualifying and the other two spots being taken by the two best second teams at the end of the pool stages.

Baber, however, has brought an experienced squad to Hong Kong as he acknowledged: "Almost all the players have played in the IRB World Series and in Jon Edwards and Richie Pugh we have two very experienced operators in this game"

Wales have Neath duo Lee Beech, James Merriman, and the Llanelli pair, Lee Williams and Aled Brew, all of whom know the world circuit well.

Baber knows that Wales, who were the Plate winners last year in Hong Kong, have shown variable form this season but he is clear what his objective is this weekend.

He said: "Our aim is to finish in the top eight in Hong Kong but we have to improve on our last tournaments if we are to achieve that goal."

Wales Sevens squad for Hong Kong: Johnathan Edwards (capt, Scarlets), Richie Pugh (Cardiff), James Merriman (Neath), James Harris (Dragons), Lee Beech (Neath), Tom Riley (Blues), Lee Williams (Llanelli), Robert Lewis (Dragons), James Lewis (Dragons), Aled Brew (Scarlets), Alec Jenkins (Scarlets), Gareth Owen (Ospreys)

5:39pm Friday 28th March 2008

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