Kieran Read

Kieran Read has changed his mind and declined the opportunity to play at the Rio Olympics in 2016.

All Black superstar Read initially had his mind set on joining the New Zealand Sevens team to play in the Brazil Olympic Games, but after lengthy talks with All Black coach Steve Hanson, he has opted to concentrate on the 15-man game.

Read’s decision not to chase an Olympic medal, would have also been a relief for Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder.

Super Rugby players who elect to play the shorter version of the game are expected to miss approximately 6 Rounds of the competition, meaning Blackadder would have been without his skillful skipper for a 3rd of the Super Rugby season if he had chosen to play Sevens.

“I was keen to go Rio but I won’t be,” Read said at the Crusaders training session on Wednesday.

“It would be a hell of an opportunity but I will probably focus on making the All Blacks team.”

There is no doubt that Read would be a sensation at Sevens. His pace, athleticism and ability to off-load in the tackle, would have made him a valuable addition to All Black Sevens coach Gordon Tiejens’ squad.

Tiejens is also expecting to target All Blacks such as Ben Smith, Julian Savea, Liam Messam, Sonny Bill Williams, Victor Vito and Beauden Barrett.

However, with Richie McCaw’s expected retirement after the World Cup, Read – tipped as McCaw’s successor – is aware of the importance of bedding himself into the leadership role for New Zealand.

After he talked about the issue with Hansen, Read said he was content to stick with the 15-man game.

“There is also the leadership within the All Blacks, as well, which is probably a bigger part of the decision,” he added.

Having already won a World Cup medal, been awarded the World Rugby player of the year in 2013, and clinched a Super Rugby title with the Crusaders in 2008, Read would have welcomed the opportunity to add an Olympic gold to his trophy cabinet.

“I guess outside rugby and playing for the All Blacks, the Olympics was a massive thing,” he acknowledged.

“It would be huge to go to the Olympics one day, but it is probably not going to work-out for me. So we will just have to go down other routes.”

Read joins All Black Aaron Cruden at making himself unavailable for the New Zealnd Sevens set-up.

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