Wales back on Sevens stage

A 24-7 victory over Arabian Gulf in the quarter-final was followed by a 19-0 semi-final win over Scotland on Friday.

Dai Rees' side were knocked out of the main competition after two defeats and one win in Thursday's pool stage.

Wales, who took a youthful squad to Dubai, were making their return to the international Sevens stage after a three-year absence.

A tough draw in Pool B saw them having to face fourth seeds Samoa, losing 26-14, and then world powers Fiji.

Wales gave the Pacific Islanders an early shock when Jonathan Edwards scored, but Fiji eventually won 42-21.

Final group opponents Tunisia proved an easier proposition for the Welsh, who at last got a win with a 29-7 success.

Coach Dai Rees had hoped his youthful side would make an early mark on their return, but Samoa took an early grip on their opening match at the Dubai Exiles Ground.

Keneti Tofilau broke through a tackle to run the length of the field for the opening try and then Henry Bryce added a second to put the Samoans 14-0 up.

Jonny Vaughton led the fightback and scored just before half-time, but the Samoans were up to the challenge from the restart as Mikaele Pesamino touched down early.

James Hook put a reply from the Welsh on the scoreboard, but it was negated again by Lia Palala who scored to give the islanders the game.

In the second game, Fiji soon cancelled out Edwards' second-minute score but Wayne Evans then added a second for Wales.

But any sniff of an upset was soon snuffed out as the Fijians rattled off five tries in a row to crush the Welsh challenge.

Wales were granted a consolation try through Hook in the dying minutes, but it was not enough to save them.