Crusaders No 8 Kieran Read wants to concentrate on the 15-man game, rather than chase Olympic gold.

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

All Blacks captain-in-waiting Read was initially eager to try and qualify for the New Zealand sevens team to play at the Brazil Games but after a discussion with coach Steve Hansen, and reflecting on a potential leadership role in what is expected to be a trying year for the test team in 2016, he has opted to concentrate on the 15-man game.

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Read's decision not to chase gold at Rio would have also been welcomed by Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder.

Super Rugby players who elect to play under national sevens coach Gordon Tietjens are expected to skip around six rounds of the Sanzar competition, meaning Blackadder would be missing his captain and powerhouse No 8 for a third of his season.

"I was [keen to go Rio] but I won't be," Read said at Crusaders training on Wednesday. "It would be a hell of an opportunity but I will probably focus on making the All Blacks team.

There is little doubt that Read - who joins playmaker Aaron Cruden at making himself unavailable for the Olympics - could be a sensation at sevens.

His pace, athleticism and ball skills - especially his ability to offload in the tackle - would have made him a valuable acquisition for Tietjens who is also expected to target All Blacks such as Ben Smith, Julian Savea, Liam Messam, Sonny Bill Williams, Victor Vito and Beauden Barrett.

However, with Richie McCaw expected to announce his retirement and walk away from the game after the World Cup, Read - who is tipped as McCaw's successor - was aware of the importance of bedding himself into the leadership group.

Hansen has already stated that 2016 promises be a difficult season, with a number of players missing the Rugby Championship and domestic series against Wales to prepare and play in Rio. He is also likely to have a diminished pool of experienced players to pick from because they have either gone overseas or retired.

Having Read on board would enable to the All Blacks to ride through this difficult period.

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 [role] within the All Blacks, as well, which is probably a bigger part of [the decision]," he added.

Having already won a World Cup medal, being anointed the World Rugby player of the year in 2013 and collected a Super Rugby title with the Crusaders in 2008, Read would have welcomed the chance to add an Olympic medal to his collection of rugby memorabilia.

"Yeah, 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."

Meanwhile, Read will captain the Crusaders side to face the Chiefs in Christchurch on Friday night.

Blackadder has made several changes to the side, bringing Dan Carter and McCaw back into the starting lineup. Ryan Crotty has been ruled out because of concussion.

AT A GLANCE

Crusaders: Israel Dagg, David Havili, Kieron Fonotia, Dan Carter, Nemani Nadolo, Colin Slade, Andy Ellis, Kieran Read (c), Richie McCaw, Jordan Taufua, Sam Whitelock, Luke Romano, Nepo Laulala, Ben Funnell, Wyatt Crockett. Reserves: Codie Taylor, Joe Moody, Owen Franks, Jimmy Tupou, Matt Todd, Mitchell Drumond, Tom Taylor, Nafi Tuitavake.