The San Francisco 49ers confirmed on Tuesday they had signed Australian rugby league star Jarryd Hayne to a three-year-deal.
Hayne had earlier told a news conference in Sydney that he had agreed to a futures contract with the 49ers but San Francisco later announced the undrafted free agent had been given a three-year deal.
The 27-year-old Australian has never played American football before but attracted offers from three NFL teams; the 49ers, Seattle Seahawks and Detroit Lions, after he announced last year he wanted to try his hand at NFL.
Hayne said he chose the 49ers after having a long talk with new coach Jim Tomsula, who had experience working with rugby players in Europe so was aware of the challenges Hayne faces in making the transition.
“For me this is a small step in the right direction,” Hayne said.
“The hard stuff starts now. Mentally I’m ready for anything. I’m going to do what it takes.”
Hayne said he had agreed to a rookie contract with the 49ers – US$100,000 (Dh367,295) – which guarantees him a spot at the club for 15-20 weeks.
But the he will need to further impress in the lead-up to the next NFL season, when the 49ers cut their roster to 53 players in August.
A two-time winner of the Dally M award as the NRL’s Player of the Year, including last season, Hayne has been a member of the Australia national team since 2007, winning 12 caps, and won a World Cup in 2013 with the Kangaroos. In 2009, he was named rugby league’s World Player of the Year.
He has spent his entire NRL career with the Parramatta Eels, and played also 20 State of Origin matches for New South Wales.
His versatility has seen him operate across the back line at fullback, centre and wing, but is the playmaker role at five-eight where he has made his name.
Very few professionals have been able to make the switch from one sport to another and the odds are heavily stacked against Hayne, although there have been some previous success stories.
A number of Australians have carved out careers in the NFL since track and field athlete Colin Ridgeway broke ground with a handful of games for the Dallas Cowboys in the 1960s.
Most have been punters from AFL (Australian Rules football). Ben Graham joined the New York Jets in 2005 age 31 and played for the Arizona Cardinals in the Super Bowl in 2009.
In 2007, Sav Rocca became the oldest rookie in NFL history when he joined the Philadelphia Eagles at age 33, and went on to play seven full seasons, including three with the Washington Redskins.
No Australian in top-flight rugby league has ever made the switch, however, and Hayne said he was still young enough to return to the NRL if things didn’t work out.
Hayne’s best chances of making it appear to be either as a running back or a punt returner.
* Agencies
