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On the back of packed houses at Ibrox, stunning on-field action and late heartbreak for Wales at the Commonwealth Games rugby Sevens, the sport making its debut at the Rio Olympics in 2016 offered genuine hope of Team GB striking Brazilian gold.

But in contrast to the London 2012 football side, it's unlikely Team GB will be fielding a league of nations in the rugby Sevens. While the door is not shut on Welsh, Irish and Scottish players taking part, it's likely an English dominated side will be heading to Brazil.

If the Red Rose finish in the top four of the IRB Series, they'll qualify for Rio automatically. And in that scenario, it's highly likely they will take their own squad of players, rather than supplementing it with those from other countries.

It means a number of Celtic rugby icons could miss out on a potential once-in-a-lifetime chance of having an Olympic medal draped around their necks.

So here’s our alternative 12-strong magnificent Sevens squad that could have paved the road to Rio with gold and given New Zealand, South Africa, Fiji, Australia and Samoa a real run for their money.

George North (Wales)

Would make the same sort of impact on the Sevens scene that an 18-year-old Jonah Lomu did when the rampaging winger took the rugby world by storm playing for New Zealand at the 1994 Hong Kong Sevens.

A year later he was terrorising Tony Underwood and the rest of the England side at the World Cup, in South Africa. North has the pace, power and bulk to strike fear into Sevens opponents as he does for Wales and Northampton Saints in the 15-a-side game.

Alex Cuthbert (Wales)

Followed the same Sevens path trod by All Blacks legend Lomu playing in the IRB Sevens World Series in 2010-11 and the 2010 Commonwealth Games, in Delhi, before coming to the wider attention of the Welsh rugby public with the Cardiff Blues the following season.

Filled the void left by Shane Williams in the Welsh team and has a jink and sidestep straight out of the little man’s top drawer to continue to shine on the Sevens stage.

Justin Tipuric (Wales)

If anyone was put on this planet to play Sevens rugby then it’s the Ospreys flanker. Creative, quick and with an eye for the smallest of openings in opposition defences, the 24-times capped Tipuric would revel in the acres of unattended grass, Sevens rugby offers.

Equally at home in the back division than winning back the ball for his team, Tipuric spent a season with Wales Sevens on the international circuit before going on to excel in the longer format.

Cory Allen (Wales)

While Wales fell agonisingly short of their maiden Sevens series title in Hong Kong last year, there was no doubting who was the star of the final in their 26-19 defeat by Fiji.

Allen’s opening touchdown – voted IRB try of the tournament – involved a dummy as audacious as it was outrageous, his second was all about power while he also had a hand in Wales’ third.

And, at 6ft 3in and 15st 8lb, Allen has the power and pace to compliment North and Cuthbert in a formidable line-up.

Watch: Cory Allen score the try of the tournament at the 2013 Hong Kong Sevens

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Jordan Williams (Wales)

Hailed the new Shane Williams, the similarities between the pair are startling with both occupying the same position of left-wing, boosting near-identical statistics, dazzling foot-work and blistering acceleration.

Williams’ performances in the 2013 Junior World Championship were, at times, mesmerising, and his ability to beat the first tackler and gain 15 yards was a major factor in Wales Under-20 making the final. Has no Sevens background but would be a potent force given the open spaces to display his box of tricks.

Dave Denton (Scotland)

Appeared for the Scots in the 2010 Dubai and George Sevens before moving up to secure full international honours the following season. The back-row forward, who was born in Zimbabwe, is a destructive runner who never shuns the defensive duties and one of those players adept at the offload in the tackle. The South Africa-schooled star has the habit of picking up man of the match awards despite playing on losing Scottish sides.

Richie Vernon (Scotland)

A true sevens specialist since playing for Great Britain in the 2005 World Games in Duisberg, Germany at the age of 18.

Made his Scotland debut that year in Dubai and returned to the squad in 2007 to be an ever-present force.

That year he scored three of the Scots’ nine tries in San Diego, notched five touchdowns at Twickenham and another three at Murrayfield and was named in Stephen Gemmell’s squad for the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Toby Faletau (Wales)

No Sevens background but given his South Sea island roots would be a major player in the shortened version of the game.

A pacey, powerful runner, Faletau rose through the Wales Under-20 ranks to be included in the 2011 Six Nations squad before making his full international debut against the Barbarians that summer.

Made his World Cup debut against South Africa, scoring his first international try in the second half, adding another in the game against Namibia. He finished the tournament as the top tackler and ball carrier, the first time a single player has ever topped both tables.

Tim Visser (Scotland)

Flying Dutchman Visser originally caught the eye of Newcastle’s scouting network while performing at the Amsterdam Sevens circuit.

Visser joined Newcastle’s Academy and marked his debut for the Falcons in September 2006 by scoring the winning try against Worcester Warriors.

He went onto gain further experience during a loan spell with Northampton Saints before deciding to move north of the border. A talented finisher, Visser is a previous winner of the Middlesex Sevens and has featured in countless Sevens tournaments across Britain.

Tommy Bowe (Ireland)

His Ulster background could make the former Ospreys star eligible for Team GB, should the powers that be open it up to all the home nations. Would be a vital cog in the machine given his versatility having turned out on the wing and outside centre for the British Lions.

Started life as a full-back before converting to the wing while playing for Ireland Under5-21s. Has a shrewd rugby brain and was voted 2010 Six Nations player of the championship.

Matthew Morgan (Wales)

Made his debut against South Africa in Durban this summer as a second-half replacement the former Osprey is one of rugby’s brightest young talents.

Has the ability to ghost past defenders and lauded a ‘class act’ by no shrewder a judge that fellow magician Shane Williams. Able to conjure up tries out of nothing and possessed with a dazzling turn of speed and Gerald Davies-style side-step.

Gareth Davies (Wales)

The Scarlets scrum-half won his first international cap against South Africa on this summer’s tour and was also named in the 2013-14 Pro12 Dream Team.

A prodigious try-scorer who snipes around the fringes of rucks and mauls, the 23-year-old is feisty No.9 is well-suited to the Sevens game.

Despite having no real grounding in the specialist format, his ability to put others into space as well as spotting gaps in the opposition defences to exploit himself would be invaluable.