Ultimate Sevens: Cardiff Men’s and Women’s Teams of the Week revealed

Last night marked a historic new era in the rugby sevens calendar, with the World Rugby supported competition seeing six new franchises take to the pitch for their respective debuts. Wales provided the perfect back-drop for the inaugural round, as Clan Taran - who represent the Celtic Nations - emerged victorious in front of their jubilant home supporters.

Taran were electric from the opening round, as they cinched a tense first round win 14-13 over Foudre Bleue, before then hammering Atlantic Novas with an 11-0 landslide in the semi-final. Having bagged the 'best loser' seed from Round One, Foudre Bleue bounced back for a storied run to the Ultimate Sevens Men's Final, yet once again fell to Taran - this time in a much more conclusive 19-5 victory for the Clan.

Following the first ever round of Ultimate Sevens action, and an exhilarating day in Cardiff, RUCK has pieced together our picks for a Men's Team of the Week - before the try-scoring gets back underway next Saturday in Biarritz, France.

We kick things off with the Clan Taran prop who was an ever-present work-horse in the tournament winning side. South African international Christie Grobbelaar was a wrecking ball for the Celtic club, with barn-storming carries evidently the order of the day from his head coach ex-Blitzbok star Phillip Snyman. It always took multiple men to bring the big man down, and Grobbelaar handed several well weighted offloads to his Taranian speedsters throughout the tournament.

A fellow South African international joins Grobbelaar in the forward trio, with a unique scrum-time battle presented between he and Ryan Oosthuizen of Foudre Bleue upon their two meetings. However, whilst Oosthuizen relished in bringing the fight to his Blitzbok teammate at scrum-time, and upon several clattering on-field collisions, we link the two South Africans up in the same side for this inaugural Ultimate Sevens Team of the Week. Thunderous carries and a well rounded passing skill-set, Oosthuizen led from the front as Les Blues bounced back for their storied run to the final.

Another member of Maria Riberia's squad gets picked for the Men's Team of the Week, with a relative newcomer to the global sevens stage making his mark upon his Ultimate Sevens debut. Whilst not carrying the pre-competition weight of expectation harnessed upon the international stars, Barry shone for the French club and emerged as a previously unknown threat to keep an eye on. Barry scored a blistering try to secure Foudre Bleue their spot in the final, and drive the nail in the coffin of Henry Hutchison's much favoured Pacific Current. He followed this up with the opening score in the final, and the sole Foudre try in the defeat to Clan Taran.

We move onto the back-line now, with Tom Emery taking the helm at scrum half for Clan Taran. The buzz was palpable around the England and Great Britain international, who led from the front with a series of stunning performances. Emery bagged a try and nailed a two-point conversion in the hard-fought first round win over Foudre Bleue, he ran the attacking playbook for the men in green. Emery also popped up for a try in the final, which took the win beyond all doubt, as Clan Taran celebrated into the Cardiff night.

The M.V.P of the first ever Ultimate Sevens event, there was only one choice for the half-back parnter to Tom Emery. The duo formed a brilliantly ruthless attacking pair, with Davids latching onto every offload and tip-on from his new-found GB teammate. However, Davids also stole the show at times, none more so than upon his individual grubber kick chase score in the first round win over Foudre Bleue.

However, it was his defensive jump into action that saved Clan Taran, as Davids held up a last-minute drive for the line, as Foudre Bleue were denied the opening round win. Davids contributions in the final matched that of Tom Emery, with the South African sensation on hand to score a near mirror image try of his first round effort. The dread-locked dynamo raced home to gather a kick for a seven-pointer, as Foudre Bleue failed to learn from their own mistakes.

Up next in the midfield, we differ away from the stand-out players from the two men's finalists, and give a star man from Pacific Current his due diligence. James Turner took the first ever men's Ultimate Sevens match by storm, as a dramatic first round battle with Sol Feroz was decided by Golden Point. However, Turner's efforts began with a solid finish, to cap off a Pacific Current try that had everyone involved at some stage. Then, the Australia star bagged the crucial Golden Point score, to send his team into the semi-final. He's also worth extra recognition, as he provided the assist for Marcus Kershaw's incredible try against Foudre Bleue - in what was a contender for try of the tournament.

We round off this Ultimate Sevens Men's Team of the Week with the sole contribution from Atlantic Novas - with no one making the squad from Albion Athletic of Sol Feroz this time around. When you go by the nickname of 'The Magician', you certainly expect some highlight reel moments, and 'Magic Moz' did not disappoint.

With Wizarding Royalty Oliver Phelps (Harry's Potter's George Weasley) in attendance, Longbottom stole the show in the first round win over Albion Athletic. The Australian executed the side-step of the day, before exploding down the pitch for an immediatly iconic score for the Novas. Whilst Atlantic Novas would tumble out of the tournament in the semi-finals, Longbottom maximised his minutes for some truly magical contributions.

Atlantic Novas took home the crown from the Women's Division, following a thrilling tournament of all-out attack and plenty of edge-of-the-seat jeopardy as every moment mattered. Having kept a relatively low profile in the proceeding training week in Madrid, and with the pre-tournament media in Cardiff, the Novas let their actions do the talking in the Welsh capital.

With none other than Black Ferns and New Zealand Sevens legend Kelly Braizer heading up the coaching staff, the Novas lit up the Arms Park, with a one-sided 11-0 win over Foudre Bleue to ignite their campaign. Another blistering performance from the American Club followed, as the Novas pulled no punches from their 24-7 hammering of Albion Athletic in the semi-finals. Tries from Nia Toliver, Chiharu Nakamura and Sesenieli Donu sent the runaway train off down the tracks and onto the Women's Final.

The showpiece match was another convincing win for Atlantic Novas, who look to be the undisputed team to beat as we look on to Biarritz in a week's time. Sol Feroz put up a good fight under the floodlights of the Arms Park, but USA superstar Nia Toliver stole the show, with another barnstorming performance in the 19-7 victory. Following the opening round of action, we have compiled RUCK's Ultimate Sevens Team of the Week for the Women's Division, with plenty of 'super' Novas in the star-studded seven.

We kick off our Team of the Week for the Women's Division in Ultimate Sevens Cardiff, with the stand-out player from Albion Athletic. Whilst it was not the expected tournament of success for the side with the self-professed 'target on their backs', Georgie Lingham took great strides for the English inspired outfit. The Leicester Tigers and Great Britain superstar was at the forefront of the opening round win over Pacific Current, with a gutsy drive for the line to cap off a stand-out performance with a try. Lingham had a similarly impressive effort in Athletic's ultimate exit, yet could not contain the might of the Novas in the semi-finals.

The first of several Atlantic Novas stars who lit up the action in Cardiff, we begin with the softly spoken but hard-hitting Sesenieli Donu in our forward pack. The Fijian international is one of the most eye-catching performers on the Ultimate Sevens circuit, as Donu brings her Pacific Island flair along with a no-nonsense power game that takes multiple players to halt. Donu was a force of nature for the Novas, with a stand-out seven-point contribution getting the semi-final underway against Albion Athletic. Whilst Donu is beloved for her smiley persona, she was even more delighted to take home the inagural championship title from Cardiff.

Joining Donu in our Ultimate Sevens forward pack for the Women's Team of the Cardiff leg, Chiharu Nakamura had an incredible series out in the Welsh capital. With a thunderous boot reminiscent of her Celtic footballer namesake, and an aggression for contact similar to the wrestler of the same name, Nakamura was ever-present at the Arms Park across both sides of the ball. The Japanese international bagged a momentum winning seven-point try in the semi-final against Albion Athletic, and also provided a beautiful looping pass, to assist Ellie Boatman's crucial try in the final against Sol Feroz.

Onto the back line now, as we compile this elite ensemble of flyers from the opening weekend of Ultimate Sevens women's division. We begin with a stand-out performer in the Pacific Current team, who admittedly struggled to hit their expected best given the fire-power running out in the teal and white. However, Bianca Silva certainly stood up for the Current, as the Brazil sensation scored a contender for try of the tournament, with a piece of individual brilliance to evade multiple tacklers and race home across three-quarters of the pitch. It was a marquee score from a big time player, as Silva backed up the Olympic hype.

Next up on this list is the Trailfinders star who is back at her flying best on the sevens stage. Following a season with the Ealing side that went all the way to the PWR Final, Emma Uren has seamlessly crossed back into the shortened version of the sport and very nearly had another winners medal to add to the collection. Uren was a leading member of the Sol Feroz side that made it to the Ultimate Sevens Final, with a stand-out score coming in the first round hammering of Clan Taran. The Olympian delivered, and Sol Feroz will be eager to go one step further when Ultimate Sevens heads to Biarritz.

Two Atlantic Novas stars make up the last pair of spots in our Team of the Week for the Ultimate Sevens women's division, and we begin with a real 'blink and you'll miss it' player in Faith Nathan. The Australian international is considered one of the fastest upon the entire international sevens circuit, and the flying sensation backed up the hype with plenty of searing runs against the hapless defenders. Nathan bagged herself the Novas first ever try, as she opened the floodgates in round one against Foudre Bleue, and she followed this up with a try in the final, before adding a two-point conversion for good measure. Speed personified, Nathan was on fire for Atlantic Novas for a memorable debut.

There could only be one choice for the wing spot, for our Ultimate Sevens Women's Team of the Week. The one and only Nia Toliver has become a house-hold name following the opening round of action, as the USA Sevens superstar brought her revered attacking power across the pond to Cardiff. The Eagles flyer delivered four tries across three matches for the Novas, and took home the M.V.P and top try scorer award under the watchful eye of the Principality Stadium.

Toliver was at her barnstorming best from the first match, as she exploded along the touch-line for a try against Foudre Bleue, before crossing for an incredible brace in the semi-final win over Albion Athletic. Mirror image scores saw Toliver canter free along the touchlines, with no Albion players able to lay a finger on her in full flight.