WALES speedster Jasmine Joyce has been named among 11 English teammates in the Team GB squad for the women’s sevens in Rio.

The 20-year-old from Haverfordwest put her studies at Cardiff Met on hold for a year to chase her Olympic dream. That decision has paid off after Joyce, who was a Pembrokeshire Schools 200-metre champion, got the nod.

The squad will be skippered by Emily Scarratt, one of a number of experienced names from England's 2014 Women's Rugby World Cup winning side and the squad who have competed in the HSBC World Rugby Women's Sevens Series last season as professional athletes.

The women have been training full-time as a wider GB group since October last year, taking part in invitational and training tournaments around the globe alongside England's exploits on the circuit, in which they won the Langford event.

Head Coach Simon Middleton, who is assisted by Wales’ Richie Pugh, said: "This is a hugely exciting moment for women's rugby with sevens making its debut at the Olympic Games and we believe we have selected the best possible group of players to achieve success in Rio.

"The World Series this season proved how competitive the women's rugby sevens circuit is and we're very much looking forward to competing against the very best as a Team GB squad.

"The strength and depth of the wider training squad has not made the final selection easy. The players have been together since October and have trained so hard and really pushed the standards up of this group.

“I would like to thank the players who didn't make the final squad for their fantastic contribution and putting us in the best possible place to play in Rio."

The women go for gold before the men, competing from August 6 to 8 with hosts Brazil, Japan and Canada in their group.

Scarratt said: "To wear the GB shirt and compete in the Olympics is a childhood dream that we are now, as a team, turning into reality.

"As a squad, we are looking forward to being among the first athletes to play rugby sevens on the world's biggest sporting stage.

“I am immensely proud to be representing Great Britain and introducing women's rugby to new audiences."

Women's Squad: Jasmine Joyce (Wales Sevens), Claire Allan, Abbie Brown, Heather Fisher, Natasha Hunt, Katy McLean, Alice Richardson, Emily Scarratt (captain), Emily Scott, Danielle Waterman, Joanne Watmore, Amy Wilson-Hardy (all England Sevens)