WING Owen Jenkins is playing for a permanent Dragons deal after putting his Olympic sevens hopes on the back burner.

The 26-year-old was released by Wales for the Rodney Parade region's Celtic Cup campaign ahead of this season's World Rugby Sevens Series.

The former Cardiff Blues speedster made an impression on the Dragons management and, with Jared Rosser sidelined by a leg injury, was promoted to the senior team for the Guinness PRO14 opener against Munster.

Jenkins is set to continue on the right wing for the trip to Zebre on Saturday with the aim of securing a full-time return to the 15-a-side game.

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"It's something that I have seen a few of the boys do over the last couple of years – Sam Cross and Luke Morgan," said Jenkins, son of former Wales and Pontypool hooker Garin.

"I have played sevens for four seasons and thought that if I was to have another crack at 15s then now is the time to do it.

"I have had chats with (WRU coaches) Gareth Williams and Richie Pugh and they have been a big help in getting me the opportunity to come into the Dragons.

"I have been fortunate enough to get an opportunity to play and I want to grab it with both hands. Hopefully it will be permanent and I want to stay and keep my place at the Dragons because I am loving it here.

"I am still contracted to the sevens and we will have to play it by ear; the Dragons have had conversations with the Union and it is all pretty fluid."

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The World Series starts again in December with the home nations playing for Olympic selection at Tokyo next year.

Jenkins was Wales' leading try scorer last season and was selected for the Commonwealth Games and World Cup.

He hopes that past exploits mean he is in the mix for Japan even if he concentrates on 15-a-side rugby.

"If I am still involved here in December then there will be conversations to be had but I will let what I want to do be known," said Jenkins.

"The main thing is that I have this opportunity in 15s and I want to take it – I have spoken to Dean and he has said I can do both.

"We will have to wait and see and I might not even get named in the wider squad for the Olympics but I have been part of the sevens set-up for a few years.

"Hopefully they have seen enough of me in the World Series so that if I don't play sevens this season then they still know what I can do."

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Jenkins scored a double in the Dragons' pre-season win against the Scarlets but didn't get too many opportunities to stretch his legs in the Munster rain.

He still earned the praise of director of rugby Dean Ryan – "Owen just does so many things right" – and hopes to impress in Italy this weekend.

"They were tough conditions that probably suited Munster – once they get a hold on a game they are a tough outfit to rein back in," he said.

"The conditions weren't conducive to the style of rugby that we want to play and what Dean and the coaches are trying to implement.

"Hopefully there will be sun in Italy and we can implement our game plan, but we've discussed that we will have to get used to conditions like that.

"It was just the start of the journey and we have to keep learning and keep getting better; that was a baptism of fire at Munster but that is the level we want to compete at."