PONTYPOOL'S Ethan Davies is looking to kick off a big season with Wales on the World Series circuit by shining at the Singha Premiership 7s with Newport Gwent Dragons.

The 22-year-old fly-half/full-back enjoyed a rapid, and unexpected, rise in the shortened format last season.

Davies, who came through the ranks at Pontypool United and was a member of the Dragons academy, had been expecting to spend 2015/16 with Cross Keys in the Principality Premiership.

However, the left-footer caught the eye of national sevens coach Gareth Williams and he ended up representing his country in the HSBC Sevens World Series.

Davies played in nine of ten tournaments, played 42 matches, scored 11 tries and totted up 107 points.

"I couldn't believe it," he said. "I'd only previously played in social tournaments with a team called The Black Sheep.

"I'd played less than 10 tournaments in my life when 'Babs' (Williams) saw me playing for Cross Keys and asked me to come along to the Wales development side.

"It's been a rollercoaster from there. I've loved it, I didn't know what to expect but played in all of the tournaments apart from Singapore.

"I was playing for Keys, then this came along and I was up against Quade Cooper and Bryan Habana… it was a bit daunting looking up to Sonny Bill Williams in the tunnel before a game!

"It's a dream come true; I am travelling the world playing rugby for my country, it doesn't get any better than that."

Davies, whose strengths are distribution and big hang time with restarts, has earned a national contract with the national squad and the WRU will now be in charge of his destiny rather than Keys.

He hopes to push on when the circuit starts up again in Dubai in the first weekend of December, with the Premiership 7s at BT Sport Cardiff Arms Park on Friday proving to be a valuable hit out.

"I was concerned about the fitness and expecting the worst because everyone says how tough sevens is but the conditioners do a great job to get us up to the level needed," he said.

"Now I've had a year of experience with Wales and I am more confident, so hopefully me performances will get better.

"We've got a while until the first tournament so the Premiership 7s is a good way to start off pre-season. We can blow away the cobwebs, see where we are and work out what needs improvement."

Davies has played for Bedwas, Newport, Ebbw Vale and Keys as well as Newport Gwent Dragons Premiership Select in the British and Irish Cup.

And he will be helping the Dragons defend their Singha Premiership 7s crown in the capital after the Wales management had initally placed the playmaker with the Scarlets.

The Welsh leg starts at 7pm when the Llanelli side take on Cardiff Blues. The Dragons, who announce their squad for the Arms Park tomorrow lunchtime, play the Ospreys (7.25pm), Cardiff Blues (8.20pm) and Scarlets (8.50pm) with the aim of making finals day at Coventry's Ricoh Arena on Sunday, August 7.