DRAGONS Hallam Amos, James Benjamin and Angus O’Brien are heading for the Gold Coast after being selected by Wales for the Commonwealth Games along with Gwent sevens specialist Ethan Davies.
Wing/full-back Amos, flanker Benjamin and fly-half O’Brien have got the nod for the tournament in Australia next month along with Lions openside Justin Tipuric.
Flanker Ben Roach, who played two games for the Rodney Parade region this season, has also been included.
Davies, who has a Wales sevens contract, has recovered from injury to earn selection for the tournament.
The 24-year-old from Pontypool suffered a blow to the knee in the Cape Town leg of the World Rugby Sevens Series last year but the playmaker has proved his fitness to coach Gareth Williams.
The selection of 15-times capped Amos is a surprise one given that he has never played international sevens, although his fast feet, power and clever lines of running make him an intriguing selection.
The 23-year-old from Cross Ash enjoyed a superb autumn for Wales, playing in all four Tests and scoring against Australia and Georgia, but did not feature in the Six Nations after falling down the pecking order because of an ankle injury suffered against Cardiff Blues on Boxing Day.
Benjamin is more familiar with the shortened format after being a regular on the World Rugby Sevens Series last season when frozen out by the Dragons.
The 24-year-old flanker from Rogerstone has featured prominently for Bernard Jackman’s side in 2017/18 but will return to Williams’ squad for the Games.
O’Brien has been a regular on the circuit this season after finding chances hard to come by at the Dragons.
The 23-year-old from Caerleon made his Wales sevens debut in 2015 and has racked up 52 tournament appearances.
Wales have been drawn against world number two nation Fiji, Uganda and Sri Lanka in the group stages on Saturday, April 14 with the knockout stages the following day.
That means Amos and Benjamin will not be available for the Dragons' Guinness PRO14 double-header in Italy against Benetton and Zebre. They will be back for the Judgement Day finale against the Scarlets.
Wales: Luke Treharne, Morgan Williams, Angus O'Brien, Luke Morgan, Owen Jenkins, Tom Williams, Ethan Davies, James Benjamin, Adam Thomas, Justin Tipuric, Hallam Amos, Ben Roach
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