OLYMPIC silver medallist Sam Cross has been named as Wales’ co-captain for the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series.

The 24-year-old from Brynmawr will lead the way in the opening leg in Dubai next weekend along with fellow skipper Luke Treharne, who narrowly missed out on Team GB selection and was a reserve in Rio.

Newport Gwent Dragons academy speedster Jared Rosser will make his debut in the tournament while Cross Keys’ Ethan Davies, the playmaker from Pontypool who is on a WRU contract, is also in the 12-strong group.

Wales have been drawn in a tough Pool A and will lock horns with Olympic gold winners and World Series champions Fiji in between encounters with Argentina, Rio quarter-finalists and fifth last term, and Canada.

"We are excited with the twelve players selected for Dubai,” said head coach Gareth Williams.

"Our seven available core players are included and their knowledge of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series will be invaluable for the four regional players and the one Principality Premiership player joining them.

“There is huge potential in the group, which is very exciting. The challenge is to accelerate their collective cohesion, having had a relatively short space of time together in preparation.

“The match scenarios we’ve experienced in pre-season against Ireland and England have helped in that regard. It is going to be a fantastic contest in a tough group, but one we are really looking forward to getting stuck into."

Sevens events have a new structure this season with the traditional Cup, Plate, Bowl and Shield format replaced by two competitions.

The top two from each group progress into the Cup to try and win gold while the lower-ranked teams go for a new Challenge Trophy.

Wales squad: Sam Cross, Luke Treharne, Stef Andrews (Aberavon, uncapped), Ethan Davies, Lloyd Evans, Owen Jenkins, Matthew Owen (Scarlets, uncapped), Ben Roach, Jared Rosser (Newport Gwent Dragons, uncapped), Adam Thomas, Morgan Williams (Ospreys), Tom Williams (Ospreys, uncapped)