Quade Cooper targets Australia's Rugby Sevens at Rio Olympics

Quade Cooper has joined Australia's Rugby Sevens programme in a bid to make their squad for the Rio Olympics.

The fly-half will be released by French club Toulon for the Sydney, Paris and London legs of the 2015/16 Sevens World Series, and will then link up with the squad in Sydney ahead of the Games this summer.

"As a rugby player growing up you never think you'll have the chance to play at an Olympics so I'll be doing everything I can to make the squad," said Cooper, who has won 58 caps and was part of the Australia squad which reached the Rugby World Cup final last year.

"The Olympics is a real opportunity to grow the game of rugby in Australia and it would be a privilege to play my part in that."

I am nervous. It's similar to when I started boxing, I was so nervous because you just don't know. I don't know if I'll flunk or be good.

Cooper knows he needs to adjust his game from the traditional 15-man code to the reduced format and admits he is nervous about the switch.

"A lot of people are saying I'll be sweet, it should be fine," he said. "But it's a totally different game. I am nervous. It's similar to when I started boxing, I was so nervous because you just don't know. I don't know if I'll flunk or be good.

"But putting yourself in those positions is the first part. That's the first hurdle and I've done that. I'm in the position to test myself. I'm excited. And I know that wherever this may lead, I'll be able to give it everything I've got."