Both Welsh speedsters have been selected to take part in an intensive sevens rugby programme at Surrey Sports Park in Guildford for the next three months as Team GB begin preparations for next year’s medal quest.
Harries has become an integral member of the Wales Women’s programme at both sevens and 15-a-side while Joyce burst on to the sevens scene last year when making her debut in Dubai on the wing.
Both players enhanced their reputations in August where Wales claimed seventh spot in the Women’s Sevens World Series qualifiers in Dublin.
Harries, who has played full back and wing for Wales at international level, was the stand-out performer for Wales in last season’s Six Nations, but even with 15 caps behind her, she says playing in the Olympics alongside the world’s top sports stars would be a dream come true.
“You watch the Olympics on television and think to yourself you’d love to play in it – so to be in the training group with Jaz is a great opportunity for both of us,” she said.
Nineteen-year-old Joyce has deferred her studies at Cardiff Met for a year so she can focus fully on what lies ahead.
“Things have happened really quickly for me,” she admits. “I only got my first cap in Sevens last December in Dubai so to be given this chance is massive for me – not many people can say they have been given this opportunity.”
As expected the women’s training squad for Team GB is heavily stacked with England players but both Joyce and Harries are determined to leave no stone unturned as they chase a coveted spot for the Olympics.
“I can’t even imagine what it would be like to get selected,” said Harries, “but we can’t wait – for me it’s doesn’t seem like it is going to be like a job – we’ll be doing something we love doing. We’ll push each other – especially as we might be vying for the same position.”
Wales Women’s head coach Rhys Edwards has no doubts the Wales duo are worthy of their spot in the training camp which began in earnest last week.
“Laurie and Jaz are on same sort of journey – Laurie is probably a couple of years ahead of Jaz in terms of experience but both have got that x factor and the sevens programme has been a great asset to them,” he said.
“They have international experience and a high level of intense competition maybe away from the glare of the Six Nations and Laurie is an example of someone who has been through that and come out a better player for it. She has that all-encompassing approach to the game now.
“Jaz is probably at the beginning of that journey but the two of them have some great potential in terms of the programme for us and they could really add to the Team GB programme.
CLICK HERE to listen to WRU TV’s Graeme Gillespie interview Laurie Harries and Jasmine Joyce
