Jarryd Hayne won’t be going to the Rio Olympics, after he missed the cut for Fiji’s rugby sevens squad.
In a lengthy post on Facebook, Hayne revealed he was told the bad news by coach Ben Ryan last Friday.
“Last Friday I had a meeting with Ben to discuss my future with the team and I was informed that my time has ended,” the post read. “As much as I would have loved to go to Rio, I too knew I wasn’t ready yet.”
Hayne made the controversial decision to quit the NFL after just the single season to join Fiji’s rugby sevens and chase an Olympic medal back in May of this year.
However in his one sevens tournament for the Flying Fijians he struggled to make an impact, making a number of errors as the side sealed their World Sevens crown in London.
Hayne will remain with Fiji’s squad for the next few days before heading to Sydney to sort out his next career move. Most pundits are tipping Hayne to make a return to the NRL, with rumours flying he may be set to re-join former club Parramatta following the news that Kieran Foran has taken indefinite leave from the game.
However, there has also been speculation that the Waratahs could be set to make a play for Hayne, with coach Daryl Gibson admitting he would be interested in luring the former Dally M winner to rugby’s 15-a-side format.
Hayne, however, gave no indication of his next move, instead opting to thank the Fijian sevens setup.
“I want to thank Ben and the entire coaching staff, the players and especially the fans. The support of the Fijian fans and fans around the world over the past few months has been incredible,” his post read.
“I’ll enjoy watching from afar and wish the team all the best of luck on their road to Rio.”
Hayne’s full statement
Last Friday I had a meeting with Ben to discuss my future with the team and I was informed that my time has ended. As much as I would have loved to go to Rio, I too knew I wasn’t ready yet. During my time with the team, I pushed my body above and beyond. I used all my experience as a professional athlete and have tried everyday and in every way possible to make this team and make it better but unfortunately, time has been against me.I’ve loved every minute of training with the Fiji Rugby 7’s. Not only are they back to back world champions but they are a bunch of guys who have welcomed me into the team as one of their own family.
It was hard to comprehend and understand at first why I came here? Why God put me here, but deep down I knew there was a reason and a purpose. God takes you places not so you can achieve what you set out for, but to play a part and help something greater than yourself.
This has been an amazing journey for me and a truly humbling experience. I have learnt so much and will never forget my time with this team.I want to thank Ben and the entire coaching staff, the players and especially the fans. The support of the Fijian fans and fans around the world over the past few months has been incredible. I am mesmerised at the love and passion people have for the 7’s.
For now, I’ll be in camp with the team until mid-week before heading back home to Sydney for some time out and will determine my next steps from there. I’ll enjoy watching from afar and wish the team all the best of luck on their road to Rio.
Going to miss our prayers twice a day, endless laughs and ma man Sharkie! Nothing but love for the taganes.
MOCE
cassowarrior
Guest
Just some quick corrections...... Full contact American football had well over 3.25 million child & adolescent players in the USA as recently as mid-2015, according to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association. At that same time, Rugby had just over 300000 child/adolescent players (male&female combined) in the US.
Working Class Rugger
Guest
Different development pathways. The US uses its schools system via athletic departments while in many countries it's a mixture of club, academy and school.
nmpcart
Guest
To be fair to the guy he took a big risk going to try out for NFL, had a good go at it and did better than many have given the positions he was suited for and his lack of background in the game. His easiest option would have been to stay in NRL and never take that risk. It seems like getting out of Parramatta when he did was a good move. As others have noted he now has several options - back to NRL with the possible risk that he can't get back to the level that he played at before, go to European or Japanese rugby, or possibly he could go to the British Super League with one of the English rugby league clubs - a lot of the Australian players seem to go well over there and he would have to be considered a key name in that comp so would command a good contract. I'm not sure what the visa rules are for that these days, I seem to recall a few players have been caught out by visa restrictions in the past. Overall though he had a go on a very public stage, whether his people were pushing the publicity or not, and has to deal with not being selected. If nothing else it has given a lot of publicity to the Sevens in Rio.
Jerry
Guest
And yet FIBA has imposed an eligibility criteria with no mention of switching after a 36 month stand down. Which suggests World Rugby could also do so. Like I said.
Bakkies
Guest
Pages 79-81 https://stillmed.olympic.org/Documents/olympic_charter_en.pdf
Jerry
Guest
http://www.fiba.com/downloads/v3_expe/agen/docs/3-ELIGIBILITY-NATIONAL-STATUS-of-%20PLAYERS.pdf "A player who has played in a main official competition of FIBA (see article 2-1) after having reached his seventeenth (17) birthday may not play for a national team of another country." There's a few narrow exceptions and the process for becoming bound is pretty convoluted but the basic upshot is once you choose a side, you're bound to them. Nothing about switching after a 36 month stand-down.
Bakkies
Guest
'2. Without the ability to play international football he’d be just another overseas player.' That's an added bonus he will be available all season round. 'There is no glory for him in Europe. His ego can’t take not being in the headlines.' He will attract headlines through performance and that he is an ex NFL player. Extra exposure to potential European sponsors for marketing purposes. I didn't take long for Sonny Bill to attract headlines. 'The british and european media barely bat an eyelid to the european rugby tournaments.' Ah yes they do. Rugby gets good coverage in the French, Welsh and Irish press.
duecer
Guest
Yes, I suspect that is true, but they way they played everything up was over the top.
Bakkies
Guest
Fiji have stated that he has Fijian passport.
Bakkies
Guest
The IOC requires a stand down period of three years of no international competition for your previous country.
ChrisT
Guest
Not sure about that, I think he will have to be a citizen of Fiji to qualify under Colpac (sp?), international eligibility doesn't come into it.
spruce moose
Guest
Nonsense. He knew what he was signing up for. He deserves to be ineligible for the wallabies. They aren't going to write a special provision in the eligibility rules for "mercenary quitters that haven't thought things through".
spruce moose
Guest
Bingo. And, Mason At the very least had a full season is league under his belt when he went to France. Hayne's just spent the last 10 months on instagram.
spruce moose
Guest
1. He wouldn't be a big shot in europe. 2. Without the ability to play international football he'd be just another overseas player. 3. He got his name here cause we have a bizarrely obsessed media. The british and european media barely bat an eyelid to the european rugby tournaments. All about the football. He would NEVER make the back page in a UK newspaper in winter. There is no glory for him in Europe. His ego can't take not being in the headlines.
GWSINGAPORE
Guest
These people have publicists who push these stories at the media. Not the other way.
kingplaymaker
Roar Guru
The worst thing for Hayne is that those few pointless minutes make him ineligible for the Wallabies. The rule is ridiculous in fact. He hardly played. If he's wise he should give the NFL another season or two, then maybe play one season in rugby to represent Fiji at the RWC (which is obviously much easier to get into than the 7s). Not impressed with the Fiji 7s coach who seemed to shamefully use Hayne for publicity, knowing all along he would struggle to make such a quick transition.
Mike Huber
Roar Pro
Talk about left field , what triggered the old walrus into the conversation ? Golfers have never been classed as athletes - Tiger Woods was the closest but his libido got the better of him .
Jerry
Guest
Ah right. I did read something where someone (Gosper maybe) was thinking of shutting it down but perhaps they figured it didn't have much of an effect this time around so wasn't as big an issue as they'd thought. I did have a quick look at some other sports and FIBA operates a one country system with a very small exemption, so despite the IOC rules, I'd imagine World Rugby could enforce a one country system.
Jerry
Guest
He'd have had to get a passport to be eligible for the Olympics so you'd imagine he'd have at least applied by now.
Peeeko
Guest
June 30 deadline