Wales head coach Gareth Williams has named his 12-man squad to contest this year’s HSBC Las Vegas sevens – and includes several players from Cardiff Blues.

Cardiff Blues duo Adam Thomas and Chris Knight return to action with Lloyd Lewis and Luke Crocker making way from the squad which won the Shield in the last event in Sydney last month.

Wales’ opponents in Pool D will be hosts USA, Canada and South Africa who have drafted in Bryan Habana.

“From the seeding in Sydney we find ourselves in a difficult group but that has been the case every round so far,” said Williams.

“It’s an exciting challenge – we’ll face South Africa for the first time this season and face familiar foes in USA and Canada.

“We had our moments in the first half against USA in Sydney and should have taken the lead. We were very disappointed in letting those opportunities go and we gave Canada too much of a start so those are areas we have been focussing on.”

Williams is hoping his fresh-faced squad can begin the Las Vegas leg the way they finished the Sydney tournament when beating Russia to claim the Shield final.

“We finished day two better than we have over the last couple of years so that was pleasing for us. When you have the lowest number of tournaments as a group it is proving a huge learning curve for the boys. The standard of the series has shot up and these young men are being judged in a very harsh environment.”

Wales Sevens squad for Las Vegas
Sam Cross (Wales 7s)
Adam Thomas (Cardiff Blues)
Ben Roach (Cardiff Blues/Wales 7s)
Owen Jenkins (Cardiff Blues)
Lloyd Evans (Ospreys)
Luke Treharne (Wales 7s – Capt)
Ethan Davies (Cross Keys)
Jordan Williams (Scarlets)
Tom Isaacs (Cardiff Blues)
Kristian Phillips (Ospreys)
Luke Morgan (Dragons)
Chris Knight (Cardiff Blues/Wales 7s)