11 Jul 2016

Sport: Hayne misses out on Fiji Olympic Sevens berth

2:59 pm on 11 July 2016

Former rugby league star and NFL player Jarryd Hayne won't be going to the Rio Olympics after being cut from Fiji's rugby sevens squad.

Hayne met with coach Ben Ryan on Friday and was told his time with the squad had ended.

Ryan said he could see that he was not going to have enough time remaining to make the final cut.

He said he didn't want to push Hayne so far that he caused injury and also had no intention of putting him through another huge week when his non-selection had already been decided.

However Ryan commended Hayne for his work ethic and character shown both on and off the training pitch.

He said the camp had an excellent environment and Hayne definitely added to it.

Jarryd Hayne gets to grips with the 15-a-side game at training.

Jarryd Hayne says he enjoyed his time with the Fiji sevens squad. Photo: World Rugby / Martin Seras Lima

In a Facebook post Hayne said as much as he would have loved to go to Rio, he too knew he wasn't ready.

The former Parramatta Eel and San Francisco 49er said during his time with the squad he pushed his body and used all his experience as a professional athlete to try and make the team but time was against him.

Hayne announced his shock retirement from the NFL in May after playing a handful of games with the 49ers, saying he wanted to try and make Fiji's Olympic sevens team.

Hayne said he would stay with the team for a couple of days before heading to Sydney where he would take some time to determine his next steps.

The Fiji sevens team for Rio will be announced on Saturday.