Coach Paul John will have more preparation time with players

World Sevens champions Wales have strengthened their hand for 2009/10 by giving contracts to eight players.

Jevon Groves, Darren Daniel, Lloyd Williams, Craig Hill, Chris Davies, Nicky Thomas, Ifan Evans and Chris Morgan will lead Wales' campaign.

The eight will be available for all eight IRB Sevens World Series events.

"[The move] will give us a level of consistency of selection that we have never been able to achieve to date," said Wales Sevens coach Paul John.

Wales will open their 2009/10 season against World Series champions South Africa at the Dubai Sevens (4-5 December).

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Also drawn in a tough Pool A are Australia and the hosts Arabian Gulf.

Under the new participation agreement between the Welsh Rugby Union and the four Welsh regions, up to 10 Sevens players can be contracted per season.

Additional regional and club players will be added for each pair of tournaments from an agreed wider squad.

Wales core Sevens players 2009/10: Jevon Groves (Cross Keys), Darren Daniel (Scarlets), Lloyd Williams (Blues Academy), Craig Hill (Newport), Chris Davies (Aberavon), Nicky Thomas (Swansea), Ifan Evans (Llandovery), Chris Morgan (Aberavon).

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