Warren Whiteley admits that turning down a chance to play for the Blitzboks at the Rio Olympic Games in August was the hardest decision he has ever had to make.Whiteley, 28, has been in the Blitzbok mix this season and was almost guaranteed one of the 14 places in the squad for the Olympics.But after much soul-searching, it wasn't the desire to play for the Springboks that swayed the Lions No8 against making himself available for the Olympics, but the will to see the Super rugby season through with the Lions."It was an extremely difficult decision, probably the toughest decision in my career," Whiteley said from the Springbok training camp in Stellenbosch yesterday."I spoke on numerous occasions to SA Sevens coach Neil Powell about it. It's still difficult when I think about it because it wasn't that I didn't want to play for the Blitzboks at the Olympics."I just couldn't do both at the same time. Because of the role that I play at my provincial union (he captains the Lions) I felt that I would be turning my back on the team and on teammates that I have been fighting for and with for such a long time."He added: "It would have been a selfish decision to go to the Olympics, but I can't tell you that I don't want to go to Rio because I would be lying."Whiteley, who has played three Tests for the Boks, might add to that tally against Ireland in the three-Test series this month, although his old nemesis, Duane Vermeulen, will be standing in his way again."There isn't a lot of thought about who will play and who won't play at this stage," Whiteley said."There is just excitement about being in the squad and about the style of rugby we want to play." - TMG Digital..