A two-code bidding war for Jarryd Hayne appears likely after his bold NFL experiment came to a sudden halt.
Hayne has been closely linked to an NRL return with the Sydney Roosters for the past six months, while Parramatta claimed a lifetime deal with the former Test rugby league star when he left the club to pursue American football in November 2014.
The Australian Rugby Union is also believed to be interested in Hayne at a time when major drawcard Kurtley Beale is set to join the exodus of Wallabies to rich northern hemisphere clubs.
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However 28-year-old Hayne’s short-term plan on leaving the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers to seek a Rio Olympic berth with rugby sevens gold medal favourites Fiji could end that as it seems it would make him ineligible for the Wallabies.
World Rugby’s eligibility rule 8.12 states: “Once the Player has represented the Union of which he is a national, in an Olympic Event, he shall thereafter be tied to that Union for all forms of the Game and in all events.”
While Australian Super Rugby franchises would love to sign him, they likely couldn’t afford him without an ARU top up that probably wouldn’t be forthcoming in that case.
However that still leaves the cashed-up rugby clubs in France, England and Japan to make bids for Hayne’s services.
Hayne’s manager Wayne Beavis insisted on Monday Hayne had not considered his options beyond the Rio Olympics.
“We haven’t had a chance to talk about Plan B and I’m sure there will be no lack of opportunities for him should be come back to Australia and want to play rugby league again or rugby union,” Beavis told Triple M.
The experienced agent also dodged questions on whether Roosters supremo Nick Politis had made contact since the announcement.
Hayne himself laughed off speculation about his career future.
Responding to Nine Network claims that he would sign with the Roosters in 2017, Hayne tweeted: “You an (sic) your mates been thinking that for 14 months”.
When prodded further on whether the reports were correct, Hayne replied: “Why don’t you ask your mate @BuzzRothfield said I would do it 6 months ago.”
The NRL-turned-NFL-turned-Olympic hopeful then joked that a stint in soccer’s A-League could be his next option.
Hayne told Triple M in February that if he ever made a return to the NRL, he would want it to be with the Eels.
“Like I always said, if I ever came back I’d go to Parra if they wanted me,” he said.
“That was always something I said from the start. It’s funny when you see media outlets say I’m doing this and I’m doing that.”
Given the Eels’ well-publicised salary cap woes that option may prove to be a stretch.
CUW
Guest
one cap for FIJI 7S makes him fijian. i think there was a guy in france who was selected and then not eligible as he had played for nz7s 9David smith was it?) however what i dont know is - if he is named in the squad and does not take part in any game , then is he still tied to fiji?
soapit
Guest
but i think he'll be playing this weekend as a trial basically wont he? thought that would then tie him to fiji
Boz the Younger
Guest
Meh, if he was 25 he would be worth the investment in a top-up , but not at 29. There is too much risk of injury and poor performance at that bag and Australian Rugby we would as likely as not fail to get sufficient return.
Redsback
Guest
So... is he tied to Fiji if he does not get selected for the Olympics on the basis of one 7s tournament in London? Alternatively, could Australia select him if Fiji chose not to? If Australia cannot select him, I see his only option as being a rugby contract in Europe, which is probably what he is after anyway. He would be an excellent replacement for Beale and would have a Quade-like impact on crowds for the Waratahs if he went there (and was eligible to play for the Wallabies).
Terry Kidd
Guest
Pity .... I think he would have been bloody good playing 12. Seems Super Rugby franchises could not meet the starting price and there is a good bet that neither could most NRL clubs, let alone the Eels. So that leaves Rugby in the northern hemisphere or another NFL stint with a different franchise. Of course, all bets are off if he doesn't make the Fijian 7s squad for the Olympics.