South Africa's Bryan Habana, who is the equal all-time Rugby World Cup leading tryscorer, will switch from the 15-man game to sevens in a bid to play at the Olympics.

South African rugby player Bryan Habana is in contention to play at the Olympics after being included in the national sevens squad for the 2015-16 season.

Rugby sevens is making its debut at the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

Habana, who has made 117 test appearances for South Africa's 15-a-side team and is the country's record try-scorer, last played international sevens more than a decade ago.

He was picked in the sevens training squad on Wednesday (Thursday NZ Time), alongside other 15-man Springboks Damian de Allende and Lwazi Mvovo. All three were at the recent Rugby World Cup.

The sevens in Rio is likely to include plenty of big names from rugby's main game, attracted by the rare opportunity to win an Olympic medal.

The 15-a-side game was last on the Olympic programme in 1924.