SAM Cross intends to have "no regrets" as he prepares to try and turn his Olympics dream into reality with Team GB 7s.

The 23-year-old from Brynmawr has joined up with 24 fellow players ahead of this weekend's Rugby Europe Grand Prix Series tournament in Moscow.

After Russia there are three more competitions – Sevens and the City in London, Exeter and Gdansk in Poland – before the final cut down to 12 for Rio 2016.

Cross is thrilled to be in the mix but is now focussed on impressing the management team.

"It was amazing to get the first call," said Cross, a back row forward who plays for Newport in the 15-man format.

"The thought of being able to represent Team GB, especially after how the London Olympics looked, is so exciting.

"The Olympics is the pinnacle of sport so to be involved would be incredible and an amazing achievement.

"It has been in the back of my mind for the past three or four years and now I'm potentially a summer away from it.

"My first target was to get in the first squad, which I was over the moon with, but now it's all about getting on that plane to Rio. I just need to concentrate on doing what I've done all year that has got me to this point.

"I'll give it everything over the next seven weeks – I don't want any regrets after this summer."

Cross certainly has plenty of experience in the HSBC Sevens World Series and after the anguish of missing out on Wales' Commonwealth Games side in 2014 has been a lynchpin for Wales.

He has 114 international games to his name and caught the eye on the biggest stage last April when his performances in the famous Hong Kong tournament earned him selection in the Dream Team.

"I was happy with how my season went," said Cross, who has a WRU national contract. "But what's been has gone and we are all starting afresh.

"There are 25 players who are all capable of being in that final squad and all of us are as hungry for it as each other. It's going to be a tough ask but I'm looking forward to the challenge."

Given that England were the highest ranked home nation in the World Series in eighth (Scotland 10th, Wales eighth), Team GB won't be among the favourites for Rio but Cross & Co are going for gold.

He said: "Scotland showed in London that anyone is capable of winning a tournament with one good weekend and we have had Kenya and Samoa also winning (in Singapore and Paris respectively).

"That's given everyone belief that they can win gold in Rio, something that I don't think could ever be topped."

Cross is joined in the extended squad by Wales Sevens captain Luke Treharne and national squad member Luke Morgan along with Cardiff Blues' Cory Allen and the Scarlets' James Davies.

The members of the Wales squad who haven't been selected are poised to feature in the Foster's National 7s on Sunday, August 28 at BT Sport Cardiff Arms Park.