Quade Cooper

Williams has been included in the New Zealand squad to play in Wellington this weekend, a strong pointer he will also feature in the inaugural Sydney 7s world series leg on February 6-7 at Allianz Stadium.

The All Blacks' World Cup champion has taken a season off Super Rugby to seek selection for the Rio Olympics, and his new coach, Sir Gordon Tietjens, says Williams is ahead of schedule in his transition to the seven-a-side game.

But integrating Cooper into Australia's program and having the France-based playmaker commit to a 10-week training block before the August Games is the conundrum.

Friend will join the team during round three of the Sevens World Series in Wellington later this month after ending a three-season stint coaching Suntory Sungoliath in the Japanese Top League.

The Kiwi-born former Wallabies playmaker could begin his path to the Rio Olympics by playing in the Sydney sevens tournament.

The Daily Telegraph reports talks are well advanced between Cooper and the Australian Rugby Union, with the 27-year-old givenclearance by his new French club Toulon to play in three sevens lead-up tournaments and then compete in the Rio Games next year, before returning to France.

At one stage the ARU were not satisfied with just three tournaments but are now reportedly prepared to give Cooper a chance at his Olympic medal dream.