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Jarryd Hayne could be playing rugby union within three months - reports
Deja vu all over again.
The Jarryd Hayne to Rugby Union story is rearing its head once again, after several months lying dormant.
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Hayne has come to the end of his contract with the NRL’s Parramatta Eels and negotiations are ongoing, and inevitably he is being linked with a switch to the fifteen man code, which on the surface is plausible.
Parramatta Eels coach Bernie Gurr told Australian media this week: “We’re still talking to Jarryd. We’ve obviously expressed our desire, and let that be known publicly that we’d like Jarryd to stay at our club.”
Unlike previous Hayne to union rumours, this time he is being linked not with an Aussie Super Franchise but with a move across the ditch to New Zealand. Stuff.co.nz report that Hayne could end up in three of New Zealand’s five Super franchises, namely the Crusaders, Highlanders or Chiefs.
Auckland’s experiment with Benji Marshall backfired horribly, while the Hurricanes already have a backline brimming with talent, including former League standout Ngani Laumape.
Hayne would need at least a season of rugby under his belt before being considered for Fiji’s squad, and with the season well underway in Europe, Super Rugby might seem the more attractive option.
It could also make sense from the ticket sales point of view, with the novelty factor of an NRL superstar like Hayne likely to put much-needed bums on seats for whichever franchise – theoretically – that signs him. From Hayne’s point of view, he could develop as a union player outside of the Australian media spotlight.
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It is certainly his last chance to make the switch, a year out from the Rugby World Cup in Japan, with Fiji already suggesting they’d be eager to look him ahead of the tournament.
The challenge of a new sport certainly won’t phase. Speaking to RugbyPass in 2017 Hayne said: “I just don’t fear things. I don’t fear a challenge. That’s the biggest thing. I enjoy that and embrace it. I look at things and if it’s something that challenges me mentally and physically and, more importantly, spiritually, then I am all for it.
“It’s been such a God journey more than anything else. To be able to go to another sport and another country, another culture – something I hadn’t experienced before – that was huge. I needed God more than anything else because there were a lot of dark days [in the NFL]. I think just in general as a person I want to take myself out of my comfort zone and go on an adventure.”
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Speaking in February, giant Fijian winger Nemani Nadolo told foxsports.com.au.: “There’s obviously been talk around the camp that Jarryd’s potentially coming to play for Fiji.”
“Just the excitement of hearing that Jarryd Hayne might be coming across again is pretty exciting.”
Fijian coach John McKee has also suggested he’s open to the idea.
“I’d certainly look at Jarryd’s form if he came back to rugby,” McKee said.
“Realistically it’d be a hard job now with rugby league going through to September; it doesn’t leave much of a window for him. He’s got a lot of good players he’s up against, so if he’s good enough he’ll get in but he’d have to be outplaying some outstanding players.”
But is the jump possible? Absolutely.
Hayne is no Sam Burgess – his game is built around skill as well as athleticism and power. While a year wasn’t long enough for the Englishman to make the jump from League forward to Union back, Hayne could surely adjust quicker. But quick enough to make a Fijian backline brimming with world-class talent? There in lies the rub.
His recent sporting résume certainly suggests it’s possible.
Any lingering misgiving about Hayne’s footballing abilities will have evaporated when he defied the odds not only to make an NFL roster in 2016, but by excelling just months on from first donning that sport’s famous body armour.
Making the Olympics with the Fijian 7s was too steep a mountain to climb given the time frame he allowed himself. Going from the NFL to the cardio extremes of Sevens was too big an ask.
But the step from League to Union is an altogether more manageable one. The question is, would just one season of Union – be it in Super Rugby or in France – be long enough time for Hayne to acclimatise? Could the disappointment he experienced in his bid to make Rio have chastened him?
If he does risk it, prepare yourself not just for the Hayne Plane but for a giant-sized media Hype Train trailing behind him.
Comments on RugbyPass
Lets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
10 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
9 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
10 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
9 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
6 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to comments