WALES are boosted by the return from injury of "invaluable" Ethan Davies for the North America legs of the World Rugby Sevens Series.

The 24-year-old from Pontypool is a welcome addition to the squad for Las Vegas, which starts on Friday, and Vancouver the following weekend.

Davies, a fly-half/full-back in the 15-a-side game, was the second top points scorer in the 2016/17 World Series and is third on Wales' scoring charts behind Luke Morgan and Rhys Jones.

The playmaker is joined for the tournaments by Dragons trio Rio Dyer, George Gasson and Joe Goodchild.

READ MORE: Wales Sevens struggle in New Zealand, but Dragons speedster Dyer shines

Head coach Richie Pugh makes five changes to his squad after a chastening start to the series with Davies, Afon Bagshaw, Cameron Lewis and Cai Devine returning and young Ospreys wing Ben Cambriani set for a debut.

Wales are ranked 14th and have been handed a tough draw against Australia, Fiji and Scotland, so the boss is pleased to have Davies back.

"Ethan is invaluable to us in terms of what he can offer, bringing stability to this young group," said Pugh, who will be assisted by former Dragons scrum-half and Cardiff Blues coach Richie Rees in North America.

"Ben Cambriani has been playing well for Swansea in the Principality Premiership, and he's been in and around the Wales U20 squad this year," continued the head coach.

"He's a powerful, fast and dynamic player who's come into training camp and performed well, so this is a reward for his good efforts.

"It's been a year since Cameron was last in the programme, so it's good to have his experience from then. He's been with Pontypridd and the Blues, and this is a further opportunity for him to get some intense rugby this season. He's someone who has been energised coming into environment.

"We missed Afon's leadership and experience in the last leg of the tournament, so we're pleased to have him back."

Wales are without Taine Basham, who made his sevens bow at the start of the campaign and has impressed with the Dragons and in the Under-20s Six Nations.

He has featured in the Guinness PRO14 and scored a hat-trick in Italy for the Welsh youngsters, with Pugh believing the dynamic back rower has prospered from the shortened game.

"Taine went straight into the U20s and carried on the good work he showed in Cape Town for us," said Pugh.

"The fluency of players between the sevens programme and regions has also been good, and Dane (Blacker) and Reuben (Morgan-Williams) have been getting involved with Blues and Ospreys respectively, which is what this programme is all about.

"For us now it's a case of building on the momentum we created in Sydney where we had our highest finish so far this season."

In Sydney Wales lost to New Zealand and Spain either side of a win against the Scots in the pool stages.

They beat Kenya but were edged out by Japan in the Challenge Trophy and they will need to be in top form against a trio of teams ranked in the top seven.

"We say every time how tough the pools are, but that's ultimately what this programme is about," said Pugh. "Exposing these players to the challenges of the World Rugby Sevens Series."

Wales Sevens squad: Luke Treharne (captain), Afon Bagshaw (vice captain), Ben Roach, Ethan Davies, Owen Jenkins, Cai Devine (all core players); Cardiff Blues: Dafydd Smith, Cameron Lewis; Dragons: Rio Dyer, George Gasson, Joe Goodchild Ospreys: Ben Cambriani; Scarlets: Tom Rogers

Group fixtures: Australia v Wales (Friday, 11pm). Fiji v Wales (Saturday, 2:23am), Wales v Scotland (Saturday, 7.30pm).