The Wales Rugby Union are lining up rugby league star Iestyn Harris to make his union debut for Wales in the Sevens World Cup.

Harris, 24, who is contracted to play for Leeds Rhinos in the Super League, is one of the names that new Wales Sevens coach Colin Hillman has earmarked for a possible call-up.

Hillman hopes to make an approach to Harris and his club Leeds for the union tournament next January.

Hillman and assistant John Ryan, the former Wales coach, have submitted a list of 25 players they would like to choose from for the World Cup Sevens on January 27-28, 2001.

Harris's name is not on the provisional list but Hillman believes the 24-year-old may be available because the tournament falls in the Super League's off-season.

"The only thing standing in the way of him being available is whether or not he wishes to play for us and whether or not Leeds would let him.

"Iestyn is a class rugby player. He's quick, strong, a good tackler, great playmaker and competitive.

"There has been talk of him coming to union in the past. Being introduced to the game as a sevens player might be the way for him to find out a bit more about the game and for us to find out a bit more about him."

Harris, who will lead Wales at the 2000 Lincoln Rugby League World Cup in October and November, may be introduced to union sevens by Leeds in August.

Former Wales second row Phil Davies coaches the 15-a-side English Premiership Two club and the club will compete at the Middlesex Sevens at Twickenham on August 14.

The Leeds squad at Twickenham will mostly consist of players from Davies's Leeds Tykes but will also include a handful of the Leeds Rhinos Super League side.

The Sevens World Cup takes place in Argentina early next year, when the fear is that union players may be tied into Heineken Cup quarter-final action or preparation for the Six Nations Championship.