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The Welsh Rugby Union is encouraging the rugby regions to support National Sevens coach Paul John ahead of October’s Commonwealth Games in Delhi.

Yet the union will not be putting pressure on the Ospreys, Scarlets, Blues and Dragons to release high profile players, with the October Games clashing with the Heineken Cup.

Although the likes of James Hook, Shane Williams and Leigh Halfpenny won’t be travelling to India, WRU Chairman Dave Pickering has reiterated the importance of a strong showing at one of Sevens’ showpiece events. 

“This is a prestigious tournament and we want to do as well as we can in it, especially given that we will enter it as world sevens champions,” Pickering told thisissouthwales.co.uk

"It is a question of being sensible on this. We do want to field a strong side, but we appreciate the position of the regions as well.

''Sevens is a specialist area, anyway, and players who shine at 15-a-side are not always best suited to the requirements of the shorter game,” he added.

Wales have been pooled with South Africa, hosts India and Tonga for the Games.

Home nations head to Twickenham

Wales, Scotland and England will use the Middlesex Charity Sevens (August 14) as a valuable warm-up ahead of Delhi.

England will compete as a Help For Heroes team wearing the black and white shirts of the charity that supports servicemen and women wounded in Britain’s current conflicts.

Head coach Ben Ryan’s squad will look to build on the silver medal achieved in Melbourne four years ago.
Ryan is hoping to deploy stars from the IRB World Sevens Series such as global record points scorer Ben Gollings and Isoa Damudamu who is returning from injury.

“The Middlesex Sevens provides a great opportunity for us to get high quality game time in the run up to the Commonwealth Games and we’re delighted to be taking part,” said Ryan.

“It’s a historic and high quality event that’s full of top-end players and it’ll be a good gauge of where we are and what finishing touches we need to put to our preparations.

“We’ll be keeping a few things up our sleeves for Delhi but it’ll be a great testing ground for us as well as for Wales and Scotland.

“To do it under the Help for Heroes banner adds a great deal to the experience and we’re delighted to be able to support them.”