Cold weather is nothing new to rugby players in Wales - but for Natalie Walsh, Brittony Price and Gethin Gibby it's a far cry from how they started the month.

The trio all represented the Ponty Butchers 7s side that took part in 7s tournaments in Dubai and Barbados pre-Christmas and needless to say, endured slightly warmer climates.

Walsh and Price, who both play for Whitland and Scarlets Ladies, were in the invitational side that consisted of players from all over the country.

And in Dubai, after losing 14-12 in their first game to Tabusoro Angels Inter, the pair helped the team bounce back with wins over The Cats (19-17), Vityaz Energy (22-5), and then the Swiss Barbarians (48-0) in the Trophy quarter final.

That set up a semi final with the Krasnodar Region, who beat them in the 2017 final, but the Butchers got revenge with a 19-0 win.

That meant a repeat of their opening game for the final - but again it was Tabusoro who prevailed with a strong display sealing a 31-5 win.

Gibby meanwhile, who plays for Narberth RFC but has also represented Crymych this season, helped the men's side beat All Stars (19-12) before a 31-14 loss to Impis, and a 26-12 defeat to Sherrards Assassins. That effectively knocked them out, but they ended with a 50-0 win over UAE 7s.

But from there it was straight to Barbados for their national 7s event, held at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown.

The Women's side eventually finished sixth, with the Men coming agonisingly close to a win on their Caribbean debut, losing 14-12 to Projecx Waterboys in the final.

"It was a great opportunity," Walsh told Telegraph Sport.

"Dubai never disappoints, the atmosphere is just amazing with the IRB World Series event also going on around you.

"It was a nice experience going to Barbados too, so chilled over there."