Jarryd Hayne offered pathway back to rugby league in end of season Pacific Championship Tests
The former Parramatta and Gold Coast star hasn't played in the NRL since 2018.
The coach of the Fijian rugby league team has revealed he's sounded out Jarryd Hayne about a potential return for the end of season Pacific Championships. Hayne hasn't played professional rugby league in six years, but has been spotted training with renowned sprint coach Roger Fabri now that his legal troubles have ended.
Fiji coach Wise Kativerata told the Daily Telegraph this week he's approached Hayne about a return. “The door is open for him if he wants to join,” Kativerata said. “He (Hayne) is fit but we are just waiting on his decision if he is interested, which will be a boost for the team.”
Fiji will play in the Pacific Bowl tournament against Papua New Guinea and the Cook Islands, rather than the elite group featuring Australia, New Zealand, Tonga and Samoa. Fiji will play one Test at home and another in Port Moresby before a final at CommBank Stadium in Parrammatta on November 10.
Hayne played 191 NRL games for the Parramatta Eels, as well as 23 for the Gold Coast Titans. He played 23 State of Origin games for NSW and 11 Test matches for Australia, as well as 10 Tests for Fiji. He also represented Fiji in rugby sevens but failed to make the team for the 2016 Olympics in Rio.
“Jarryd is an elite athlete,” Fabri said recently. “He is one guy you can never, ever disregard when he puts his mind to something. When Jarryd applies himself, he will never stray. He has proven it time and time again. He did the unthinkable by making an NFL roster (with the San Francisco Giants).”
As Hayne isn't a contracted NRL player, the ARL Commission would need to approve his addition to Fiji's team. Kativerata is also hopeful rugby union convert Mark Nawaqanitawase will be available.
Nawaqanitawase made his NRL debut with the Roosters last weekend after defecting from rugby union. “So far we’ve been talking to other NRL players who are interested in representing the country,” Kativerata told the Fiji Sun. “We’ve had talks with Mark Nawaqanitawase, Tui Kamikamica and Api Koroisau to name a few. Tui is a humble giant. He is a good role model and a good boost in the team for the Pacific Nations Cup matches.”
Jarryd Hayne could make return with club rugby team
Speaking to Yahoo Sport Australia last month, the president of the Western Sydney Two Blues rugby club also flagged the possibility of offering Hayne a lifeline. Competing in the NSW Shute Shield competition, the club is located in the heart of Parramatta territory.
Two Blues president Greg Cummings made it clear that any approach to return would have to be instigated by Hayne and would only be considered if supported by the club's board and coaching staff. It would also need to be approved by Rugby Australia and Rugby NSW.
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Cummings told Yahoo Sport Australia: "He'd have to approach us – we're not about to chase him – and I'd run it past my board and coaching staff first. If everybody was onboard, we would consider it on its merits. He was one of the best fullbacks in the game at his peak but has been out of football a long time, so he'd have a lot of work to put in. We're not at NRL level but our guys are very committed and train hard, so he'd have to be willing to do the work. I'd have to say it's a long shot but you never know."
When asked if Hayne's past was a concern, Cummings said: "Not from my perspective but others within the game may have their own thoughts. He'd have to pay his registration fees like all the other boys - $250 a season."
