Jarryd Hayne linked to shock switch to NZ Super Rugby team
Jarryd Hayne could make another sensational shift in his playing career by joining a New Zealand Super Rugby team.
The former San Francisco 49ers running back is is out of contract with the Parramatta Eels and has recently taken to social media to express his frustrations over a lack of movement in negotiations with the NRL club.
The Eels are beginning preparations for the new season on Thursday, but last week their CEO Bernie Gurr said it was unlikely Hayne would be involved in that as negotiations continued.
However, it was understood Hayne had decided to look at making another switch in codes.
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The end goal is to play for Fiji in next year's World Cup and to get up to speed for that there have been moves for him to join a New Zealand Super Rugby franchise, with the belief that playing for a team on this side of the Tasman will be better preparation for international rugby.
There would also be less of a media circus following him around than in Australia.
Also a move to a French club would be complicated as their season is already underway, with budgets sorted and the usual way the big clubs like Toulon, Clermont and Racing 92 bring players in at this point of the year is through the 'medical joker' system.
The New Zealand Super Rugby teams name their squads next week and it is believed there is no room at the Blues or Hurricanes, but there could be space for him at the Chiefs, Crusaders or Highlanders.
While it would be seen as a risk for any New Zealand Super Rugby team to gamble on picking up Hayne, he has shown during his career that he is a powerful and fast runner, capable of breaking through defences.
In times when franchises are struggling to get spectators through the gates, having Hayne in a starting line-up would certainly help fill up stands and in these commercially-driven times it would be hard to fathom why any New Zealand Super Rugby team wouldn't be interested in talking to Hayne.
While his time in the NFL in 2015 was short-lived, his decision to leave the game wasn't caused by poor performances, but the need to learn so much so quickly, especially when it was announced that Chip Kelly would be the incoming coach in 2016.
After leaving the 49ers, he immediately turned his attentions to making the Fiji sevens squad for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
But he didn't have enough time to make the transition and failed to make the final cut.
"As much as I would have loved to go to Rio, I too knew I wasn't ready yet," Hayne said at the time.
While that was a disappointing moment for Hayne, he has remained passionate about his Fijian roots and has represented the Pacific Island nation the last two years in rugby league.
Hayne will be 31 by the time of next year's Rugby World Cup, so it would be his last opportunity to play test rugby on a world stage.
Sunday Star Times
Replies
LOL.... I hope he does it!
Patsy, you know that the person leaking the info to the media about all this apparant interest is Hayne and his Manager to get Parra to sign him. The reality is nobody wants him anymore.
Stop bluffing and just go Jarryd
the longer this goes on the more I think we should part ways with him.
Time for new blood young blood in Eels colours.
But however if the club continues to stall on a deal it could be a distinct possibility we shall see.
But I thought you had all the info Tom??? You know everything that happens at the club.
Not every detail...
Steady Tom
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