Jarryd Hayne has missed out on Olympic selection, taking to Facebook to confirm his omission on Monday morning.
Fiji coach Ben Ryan flagged an imminent squad update, ahead of the final team announcement this weekend, and Hayne posted on his Facebook page that Ryan had met with him in recent days to advise him he wouldn't he beading to Rio.
"As much as I would have loved to go to Rio, I too knew I wasn't ready yet," Hayne wrote.
"During my time with the team, I pushed my body above and beyond. I used all my experience as a professional athlete and have tried everyday and in every way possible to make this team and make it better but unfortunately, time has been against me."
In a Fiji Rugby statement Ryan praised Hayne but said ultimately he did not have enough time to fall into sevens but said he could see Hayne as a fullback or centre in the 15-man game.
“With a week to go to selection, I could see that he was not going to have enough time remaining to make the cut. I didn’t want to push him so far that I caused injury and also had no intention of putting him through another huge week when I had already decided upon his selection," he said.
“As I expected, his reaction to all this was gold standard. A few more weeks and his selection decision may well have been different. If he decides to stay in Union then I have no doubt he will make a world class centre or full back. I’d recommend him highly to any organisation.
“The clearest signpost of the sort of bloke he is was the reaction from the rest of the squad when they found out he was leaving. He has made an indelible impression on all of them and the management. No rock star attitude. No demanding behaviour.
"The quote I have plagiarised from the wall of the New York Giants sums him up; Blame nobody. Expect nothing. Do something."
Hayne played one tournament for the Fiji Sevens, given limited minutes in the final World Series tournament in London.
His next destination is unclear, with NRL and French rugby possible destinations for the cross-code superstar.
The 28-year-old has been mooted for a potential return to the Parramatta Eels, especially with the shock exit of Keiran Foran.
Eels coach Brad Arthur said they would certainly entertain a Hayne comeback, if that's what he wanted.
“We’ve said all along if Jarryd wanted to come back to our club we’d only be too happy to take him,” he said to reporters last week.
“I don’t know what Jarryd’s plans are with where he wants to take the rest of his career, but I’m sure that if he wants to play rugby league he’ll give us an opportunity.
“We’d love to have him at our club, but for the moment I’m really happy with the core group of players that we’ve got.
“They are doing a great job for us and we are happy to keep fighting with what we’ve got.”
