OLYMPIC hero Sam Cross is eyeing Commonwealth Games gold with Wales after a stunning silver success in Rio with Team GB.
The 23-year-old from Brynmawr is back on home soil and enjoying a well-earned break after helping Great Britain finish second in the men's rugby sevens in Brazil.
Cross admits that winning a medal at the Olympics is a high that he will struggle to top – but he still has plenty of big goals to achieve.
The forward, who is a flanker/number eight in the 15-man game, has been a leading figure for Wales in the HSBC Sevens World Series over the past couple of years and was named in the Dream Team for his exploits in the prestigious Hong Kong tournament last season.
But two years ago he suffered Commonwealth Games anguish when he missed the final cut for Glasgow, a painful moment that means he is determined to earn selection for Australia's Gold Coast in 2018.
"My next target is the Commonwealth Games and the World Cup in 2018, our aim with Wales is to build a side that can win a medal," said Cross.
"I know there will be interest from 15s boys now after the Olympics, which I think will have pushed 7s to another level. Pretty much all the top nations will be at the Gold Coast and it will be another exciting tournament.
"It was amazing to represent GB at the Olympics and I'd imagine it will the biggest sporting achievement of my life – I can't see anything topping that – but now I'd love to represent my country at the Commonwealth Games.
"To get a medal there to go with the Olympic one would be incredible and we will have a chance because I am sure we will have a strong squad."
Cross was joined in the Team GB team by Scarlets flanker James Davies, who will now be aiming to push into Warren Gatland's Wales 15s squad, while his national coach Gareth Williams was boss Simon Amor's right-hand man.
Williams may have been the man who left Cross out in Glasgow but he has also helped the Newport RFC back-rower flourish on the World Series circuit.
"It was great to share it with 'Babs' because he has played a big part in my development over the past couple of years, pushing me on to this," said Cross, who has 114 international games with Wales under his belt.
"He understands what we have put our bodies through over the past few months and has told me to go away, soak in what we have achieved and then come back in firing ready for Dubai in December.
"We've got an exciting squad for the season so I am looking forward to it."
More from Cross on the Olympics experience: Page 37
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