OLYMPIAN Jasmine Joyce and Hannah Jones have been named as co-captains for the Rugby Europe Grand Prix Series double-header as Wales Women hunt a place on the World Series.

The Welsh women head to Marcoussis, south of Paris, this weekend before travelling to Kharkiv in Ukraine on the weekend of July 20.

Joyce and Jones were part of Wales' Commonwealth Games squad last year while the former featured in the Rio Olympics and has also recently starred for the Barbarians.

Bethan Lewis is the other member of the Rugby Europe squad to have competed at the Commonwealth Games while Dyddgu Hywel, Alisha Butchers and Keira Bevan are also very experienced sevens players.

Alex Callender played in Rugby Europe last season while this will be the first senior international tournament for the other six players - Gwen Crabb, Bethan Davies, Courtney Edwards, Lleucu George, Rebekah O'Loughlin and Lauren Smyth.

WRU community director Geraint John, who has executive board level responsibility for women's rugby, said: "The women and girls' strategy is very clear. We want to grow the women's game in Wales and we believe sevens will help us to do that.

"Getting onto the World Series is a clear target for us as a Union and qualification for the World Series qualifier next April is by finishing in the top eight at the end of these two Rugby Europe tournaments, first in Paris this weekend and then in Ukraine next month.

"We expect the standard of rugby this weekend from all nations to be very high but the coaches and players have worked very hard and we know that we have the talent to do well if we play to the best of our ability.

"Jasmine and Hannah have really led by example throughout the programme on and off the field, driving standards and supporting other players."

Wales face Belgium, hosts France, who finished fifth in the World Series, and the Netherlands on Saturday.

Co-captain Jones confident that they will reap the rewards of hard graft on the training paddock.

"We've prepared really well for these tournaments with squad and personal training programmes and preparation camps and events," she said.

"Fitness is key in sevens. We're pleased where we are in that regard and we know we're capable of finishing in the top eight if we perform well.

"We have a great bunch of girls, a mix of experienced players like Dyddgu coming back into the programme who brings a great skill set and new, young players like Courtney who's brought a real energy to the group."

There are three groups of four with the top two progressing to the quarter-finals along with the best two third-placed teams.

Wales Women squad for Marcoussis 7s: Keira Bevan, Alisha Butchers, Alex Callender, Gwen Crabb, Bethan Davies, Courtney Edwards, Lleucu George, Dyddgu Hywel, Hannah Jones (co-captain), Jasmine Joyce (co-captain), Bethan Lewis, Rebekah O'Loughlin, Lauren Smyth