Video: Rio 2016 chance fires up Bath Rugby's Ben Williams

Bath Rugby centre Ben Williams believe this year’s JP Morgan Premiership Rugby 7s Series will help produce Britain’s first Olympians in the sport for almost a century.

Sevens will make its first Olympic appearance since Paris 1924 at Rio 2016.

And 23-year-old Williams said: "There is so much interest in sevens these days. Obviously there is the World Series and the JP Morgan Series but now you have the [Rio 2016] Olympics coming up too.

“It’s probably going to be some of the boys playing this summer who are going to be representing Great Britain, so in that respect it’s a great stepping stone.

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“It’s obviously a great chance for the boys to make their mark for their clubs as well and hopefully fight for an Aviva Premiership shirt later on in the season.”

Williams attended the draw for this year’s Series at Allianz Park, home of Saracens, where Bath were placed in Pool A with Gloucester, Exeter and Worcester.

Bath reached the Series Finals last year and acted as hosts but, despite beating London Welsh 24-7, fell to London Irish at The Rec, with the Exiles going on to defeat Gloucester for the title.

The JP Morgan Premiership Rugby 7s Series gets under way in August but Williams knows there is plenty more on offer before then – namely a place in the Aviva Premiership play-offs.

Bath are currently seventh in the table, seven points off fourth, and also face Stade Francais in the Amlin Challenge Cup quarter-finals next month.

“We’re climbing up the league slowly, which is good," he said. "We’re heading in the right direction, so we’ll be looking to really push strong for the rest of the season."

* The final of JP Morgan Premiership Rugby 7s will be at The Rec, the home of Bath Rugby, on Friday, August 9. For tickets and more information, visit wwwjpmorgan7s.com or follow @jpmorganrugby7s.