The 28-year-old has previously represented Fiji and Australia in rugby league at international level and was a member of the latter’s 2013 Rugby League World Cup winning team.

He was born in Sydney and grew up in Australia but is the son of a Fijian father and an Australian mother.

Last March, Hayne joined National Football League team San Francisco 49ers as a running-back but after eight games for the team ended his spell in the sport last month.

Instead he joined the Fijian team for the final World Rugby Sevens Series competition of the season in London, having expressed the intention of representing the Pacific island nation at Rio 2016.

Fiji were eliminated at the semi-final stage of the competition, which was won by Scotland, but it proved enough for the team to win the overall series for the second consecutive year.

After his appearance at the final event of the series, Hayne has now been picked in the preliminary squad for Rio 2016 by the Fijian head coach Ben Ryan.

He will join Alivereti Veitokani, Amenoni Nasilasila, Apisai Domolailai, Emosi Mulevoro, Isake Katonibau and Jasa Veremalua in the selection for the countries training camp, with the squad also containing Josua Tuisova, Josua Vici, Kitione Dawai, Leone Nakarawa, Masivesi Dakuwaqa, Nemani Nagusa and Osea Kolinisa.

Ryan’s selection is completed by Pio Tuwai, Samisoni Viriviri, Savenaca Rawaca, Semi Kunatani, Seremaia Tuwai, Sevuloni Mocenacagi, Vatemo Ravouvou, Viliame Mata and Waisea Nayacalevu.

The squad are set to begin a training camp at the Uprising Beach Resort in Pacific Harbour on June 13 as the battle for selection at the Games continues.

Ryan will then have to select a 13-man team for Rio 2016 as the Fijian side look to justify their status as favourites for Olympic gold.

The Pacific Island nation are yet to win an Olympic medal in their history, but the rugby sevens team are considered their best hope of ending the wait.