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It may not quite rival the legend of the Jamaican bobsleigh team, but there are some cool rugby runnings going on in the Caribbean, with a sprinkle of Welsh influence.

And playing his part in what could be another sporting fairytale is Newport RFC wing Wes Cunliffe.

The 30-year-old is a born and bred Welshman, but his grandparents hail from the same Jamaican village as global superstar Usain Bolt.

Cunliffe takes up the story.

“I was playing for the Samurai sevens side and our coach James Bailey who played sevens for England asked, ‘I hope you don’t mind me asking but what’s your heritage?’ I said my mother is Welsh from the Valleys, my father is born here and my grandparents are Jamaican.

“He said that there is a project they are looking to start up in Jamaica and their goals are the Commonwealth Games and hopefully to jump onto the HSBC world sevens series.

(Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency)

“He asked would I like to get involved, I said why not and it has gone on from there and myself and Josh Jacas got on board.”

The Jamaican sevens side, known as ‘The Crocs’ played in the recent Hong Kong sevens qualifiers and although results didn’t go their way - they lost to Germany, Uganda and Tonga - it hasn’t dampened any enthusiasm.

“I don’t think we have that far to go,” added Cunliffe, who has recently signed a new contract with the Black and Ambers.

“We are looking to qualify for the Commonwalth Games, that is the ultimate goal.

“We have got some quality in there, a few of us are based in the UK and the rest are back home on the island.

“We all remember the bobsleigh team. If we did make it, what a story it would be, not just for us, but for future generations and for players in the UK who have dual heritage like myself.

“Jamaica is a country known for sprinters, known for cricketers, it would be nice for rugby to be part of that.

“Rugby is a growing sport over there, not everyone has got a Usain Bolt vest on, people are wearing Samoa, New Zealand, Wales rugby jerseys, it is great to see.”

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That said, there is still a bit of athletics influence on the rugby squad.

“We have had some training with Elaine Thompson, who won Olympic gold in the 100m in Rio, it is just really exciting for everyone,” added Cunliffe.

“This is my first year of sevens and it is a great ride.

“The Commonwealth Games in the Gold Coast next year is the goal and everyone is working really hard towards that.

“I believe we can qualify.

“We have got the players, we have got the coaching staff, it is now about individuals getting involved in tournaments like the Heineken National Sevens here, then as a team entering tournaments to get that togetherness and developing our own style of play.”

Cunliffe is also planning a family trip back to Jamaica.

“I have only met my grandparents three or four times, they came over to Newport in the 1940s and moved back in 2002. I visited them last year and it was a great experience," he added.

“I have two beautiful children they haven’t met yet so that is the next thing, to go over there so they can meet their great grandchildren, there is a lot of things to look forward to.

“I am Newport born and bred, it is a privilege to play for my home town, the icing on the cake to wear the Black and Amber jersey.

“It would have been nice to wear the red one, where I have been born and raised, but with the other part of my heritage from the Caribbean, it tops it all off being able to wear the Jamaican jersey.”

Wes Cunliffe is set to be part of the Newport side that will compete in the Heineken National Sevens which will take place at Llanelli’s Parc y Scarlets on Saturday, May 27.