Sevens ace Cory Allen set to be Wales’ next big thing
While Wales fell agonisingly short of their maiden Sevens series title in Hong Kong last week, there was no doubting who was the star of the final in their 26-19 defeat by Fiji.
Allen’s opening touchdown – voted IRB try of the tournament – involved a dummy as audacious as it was outrageous, his second was all about power while he also had a hand in Wales’ third.
And, at 6ft 3in and 15st 8lb, Allen, 20, predictably had observers thinking of Wales’ similarly proportioned Alex Cuthbert and George North.
Centre Allen, who made three LV= Cup appearances for the Blues last season and played in the Junior World Championships, told The Rugby Paper it was no coincidence he was following in the footsteps of his Cardiff Blues teammate Cuthbert, who used Sevens as a springboard to full international honours.
He said: “I was in the academy when Alex was doing the Sevens circuit and I was very envious watching him go away to all these places.
“When he came back I asked him all about it and that just made me more determined to be a part of it. Hopefully I can do the same thing, he is one of the best finishers in the world and he got that from playing in Sevens.
“All the Sevens opportunities developed him and made him into the player he is and if I can improve like he did I’ll be very happy with that.”
In contrast to England‘s reliance on full-time specialists, Wales are keener to use Sevens as a finishing school for their promising youngsters.
It was on the suggestion of former Blues coach Gareth Baber that Allen was fast-tracked into the set-up and despite his dual commitments with the Wales U20, he played in this season’s U20s Six Nations, Allen has flourished in the shorter form. He said: “I was so happy when they asked me to try out. Sevens is something I’ve always wanted to do so I didn’t take it as a snub; I saw it as an opportunity.
“Because it’s so open and demanding, physically, it puts pressure on all your skills that you take for granted in XVs.
“You’re always involved and that gives you the opportunities to try different things in one-on-one situations. I did not plan that first try, the dummy was instinct but I was happy it came off.
“You also have to defend one-on-one with ten metres either side of you against some of the best runners in the world. It really does test you and it’ll pay dividends for me when I go back to XVs.”
Allen’s learning curve in Sevens could be extended into a second full season on the IRB circuit – although that may depend on what the Blues have planned for him.
Jamie Roberts’ departure leaves a big hole in their midfield and although he is not in a hurry to return, Allen has the attributes to plug the gap.
“I’m loving Sevens at the moment and being in this environment,” he said. “If I get selected for the Blues I’d love that but if not I’d love to come back here next year and do it all over again.
“Jamie’s are big shoes to fill but if an opportunity does come then I’ll do my best to take that.
“But I’d like to do another season here and I’m not in a rush to get going into the XVs. If an opportunity does come I’ll do my best to take it and move up the XVs ladder as quickly as possible.
“But with the sevens you are on a world stage, which I love.”
DANIEL SCHOFIELD
