JAMES Davies has hailed the strides made by GB 7s teammate Sam Cross after the Wales international suffered Commonwealth Games heartache in 2014.

The Welsh duo were named in the squad for next month's Olympic Games in Rio on Tuesday along with speedster Jasmine Joyce, who is the sole non-Englishwoman.

Scarlets flanker Davies was a member of the Wales side that played in Glasgow two years ago but Brynmawr's Cross narrowly missed out.

The 23-year-old responded to that disappointment by becoming a regular on the HSBC Sevens World Series circuit and earning the chance to go for gold in Brazil.

"It's been a couple of years so you can actually joke about it now," said Davies to the Welsh Rugby Union

"I quite like been making it awkward between him and 'Babs' (Wales boss Gareth Williams, deputy GB coach), saying 'Babs' made him the player he is now by leaving him out!

"That disappointment, he didn't want to experience again and he has matured as a person and a player in the last two years.

"He has impressed me over the last eight weeks in how he has improved as a sevens player and a leader. Hats off to the guy and it's nice to know I will have someone out there with a Welsh accent."

Haverfordwest's Joyce is also excited by the chance to go for a medal alongside a host of top English players.

The 20-year-old is yet to make her international bow in the 15-man game but has caught the eye of the GB management team.

"I can't wait to get on that plane now," she said. "I've grown as a player since the start of the programme in Sept to now; I'm not capped at 15s now look where I am!

"I can't believe I am going to the Olympics and will experience the atmosphere of a Games. Being in the athletes' village and walking past the people such as Jessica Ennis and Usain Bolt is going to be amazing."