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Olympic setback for Hayne

Jarryd Hayne has missed out on Fiji's initial London squad. Photo: Getty Images
Jarryd Hayne has missed out on Fiji's initial London squad. Photo: Getty Images
Beth Newman Profile
by Beth Newman

Jarryd Hayne has been declared eligible for another sensational sporting switch but the code-hopper still faces one big challenge in his Olympic quest.

To play for Fiji at the Olympics, a desire he flagged after quitting the NFL earlier this week, he has to be picked in the squad and when coach Ben Ryan's preliminary 12-man squad for London was named on Wednesday, he wasn't on it.

The develop puts a major spanner in the works as Hayne races to be considered for the inaugural Olympic squad.

This weekend's London tournament, the final World Series leg, would be his only chance to play at the international level before the Olympics, which kicks off on August 6.

Hayne could yet be picked in Fiji's final squad for the tournament, to be officially named on Friday by Ryan.

Fiji is set to secure the World Series title in London this weekend, having to finish lower than ninth to be in danger of surrendering their top spot.

Australia is in Fiji's pool, along with England and Wales, in a group eerily similar to last year's Word Cup 'Group of Death'.

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