SANTA CLARA, CA - SEPTEMBER 03: Jarryd Hayne #38 of the San Francisco 49ers walks off the field after their NFL preseason game against the San Diego Chargers at Levi's Stadium on September 3, 2015 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Jarryd Hayne has announced his retirement from the NFL to chase his Olympic dream with the Fiji sevens team.

The San Francisco 49ers announced on Sunday (US time) that the Australian running back has made the decision to leave the team after one season to return to rugby and will compete with the Fiji team at the Olympics in Rio.

“I am retiring from the NFL because the Fiji Rugby Sevens team reached out to me about the opportunity to join the team for the upcoming Olympics, and I simply could not pass that chance up, the 28-year-old said in a statement.

“The Olympics has been something I have admired since I was a little boy, and it is an opportunity I feel very similar to me joining the NFL.”

Read more at CourierMail.com.au