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Scotland international and Welsh centre’s brother make Team GB squad for Rio sevens

JAMES DAVIES, BROTHER of Wales centre Jonathan Davies, and Scotland international Mark Bennett have made Team GB’s 12-man sevens squad for next month’s Rio Olympics.

Davies, who is contracted to Scarlets, is one of three Welshmen selected in coach Simon Amor’s squad alongside Bennett, of the Glasgow Warriors, and eight Englishmen.

Amor picked his 12 representatives, and two reserves, from an initial panel of 27, with four of the 12 plying their trade in the 15-a-side game.

Newcastle wing/fullback Marcus Watson, an older brother of England winger Anthony Watson, and utility back Ollie Lindsay-Hague of Harlequins complete the quartet alongside Bennett, who has 16 caps and six tries for Scotland, and Davies.

“He (Jonathan) has the Lions claim, I am going to be an Olympian,” an elated Davies said after his selection.

“So it’s nice to get one up on him for a change!

“He is very proud and he was ecstatic for me.

“He knows I have had disappointments in my career so to have an achievement like this is special and he knows how much this means to me.

“There are a few international rugby players from my part of the world but not many Olympic medallists.

“I’m one of the first Welsh sevens players to be Olympians. Just hearing that now sends a shiver down my spine.”

Ireland’s men’s and women’s sides failed to qualify for the Games.

Rugby was last at the Olympics in 1924 (Paris) in its traditional 15-a-side guise and it was the United States who claimed gold on that occasion.

Team GB men’s squad:

Mark Bennett (Glasgow Warriors)
Dan Bibby (England Sevens)
Phil Burgess (England Sevens)
Sam Cross (Wales Sevens)
Alex Davis (England Sevens)
James Davies (Scarlets)
Ollie Lindsay Hague (Harlequins)
Tom Mitchell (England Sevens, captain)
Dan Norton (England Sevens)
James Rodwell (England Sevens)
Mark Robertson (Scotland Sevens)
Marcus Watson (Newcastle Falcons)

Reserves:

Luke Treharne (Wales Sevens)
Ruaridh McConnochie (England Sevens)

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