News - UK Olympics
Scarlets' James Davies sounded out by Team GB over Rio 2016
ESPN Staff
April 12, 2016
© (Photo by David Jones/Getty Images)

Scarlets flanker James Davies' is in Team GB's sights for a spot in the Sevens squad for Rio 2016.

The Scarlets coach Wayne Pivac has confirmed Davies, 25, has been sounded out by the selectors over his potential availability for the Games. Davies, who has represented Wales at Sevens, has spent the past couple of seasons playing in the back-row for the Scarlets and has been mooted as someone who could be called up for Wales' tour of New Zealand this summer.

Davies now faces the decision of whether he will chase a spot in the Team GB Rio squad or focus solely on 15s with the possibility of winning his first Test cap against the All Blacks in June.

"He has been spoken to, I believe," Pivac said on Wales Online regarding Team GB's contact with the flanker. "James and I have had a chat around it and it's about the bigger picture with his career.

"He has to make a decision whether he wants to be a Sevens player or a 15s. When you have made the 15s Wales side and you get a phone call it's easier to make that call.

"But when you are striving for the 15s, and once every four years there is an Olympics, James is in a different position than someone who is playing regular Test match rugby.

"All countries are going through the same process and back home in New Zealand, Sonny Bill Williams has committed to Sevens.

"Those boys have been playing that game for a period of time. So I would have thought if you were going to be playing Sevens you would be up and running by now but that's not the case."

Pivac described Davies as the "ultimate Sevens player" but says the region needs to stay "mindful of where he is physically".

© ESPN Staff

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