Izzy won't rule out Olympic rugby tilt

Israel Folau won’t rule out playing sevens at next year’s Rio Olympics.

Folau, who announced a three-year deal on Wednesday to remain with the Wallabies and NSW Waratahs, was quizzed about going for Olympic gold in Brazil.

“In terms of playing sevens, I haven’t really thought into that process as yet,” Folau said.

“For me, it comes down to what I want to do and it’s not a real big thing for me at the moment.”

The Australian men’s team has yet to qualify for the Games, missing out on the first round of direct qualifications for 2016 by finishing outside the top four in the 2014/15 world series.

They still have a couple of shots remaining to make it to Rio.

ARU boss Bill Pulver has already declared that not all Wallabies will be allowed to play should the team qualify for the Olympics, pointing out next year’s Super Rugby final would probably take place at the beginning of August, a week before the Games begin.

The likelihood of 15-a-side players having to miss the majority of the 2016 Super Rugby season and plenty of Test rugby too is a major hurdle for the ARU and it seems almost incomprehensible that coach Michael Cheika would allow Folau to leave.

Folau has signed a flexible contract that allows him to play overseas once his Super Rugby and Test commitments are over.

He is expected to play in Japan, but Folau said his management was still working through that.