Jarryd Hayne speaks to the media during a press conference at the Telstra Amphitheatre on March 3, 2015 in Sydney, Australia. Hayne has signed a NFL futures contract with the San Francisco 49ers. Matt King / Getty Images
Jarryd Hayne speaks to the media during a press conference at the Telstra Amphitheatre on March 3, 2015 in Sydney, Australia. Hayne has signed a NFL futures contract with the San Francisco 49ers. MattShow more

NRL star Hayne signs three-year deal with 49ers as undrafted free agent



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

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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: ARDH Collective
Based: Dubai
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Sector: Sustainability
Total funding: Self funded
Number of employees: 4
Dubai works towards better air quality by 2021

Dubai is on a mission to record good air quality for 90 per cent of the year – up from 86 per cent annually today – by 2021.

The municipality plans to have seven mobile air-monitoring stations by 2020 to capture more accurate data in hourly and daily trends of pollution.

These will be on the Palm Jumeirah, Al Qusais, Muhaisnah, Rashidiyah, Al Wasl, Al Quoz and Dubai Investment Park.

“It will allow real-time responding for emergency cases,” said Khaldoon Al Daraji, first environment safety officer at the municipality.

“We’re in a good position except for the cases that are out of our hands, such as sandstorms.

“Sandstorms are our main concern because the UAE is just a receiver.

“The hotspots are Iran, Saudi Arabia and southern Iraq, but we’re working hard with the region to reduce the cycle of sandstorm generation.”

Mr Al Daraji said monitoring as it stood covered 47 per cent of Dubai.

There are 12 fixed stations in the emirate, but Dubai also receives information from monitors belonging to other entities.

“There are 25 stations in total,” Mr Al Daraji said.

“We added new technology and equipment used for the first time for the detection of heavy metals.

“A hundred parameters can be detected but we want to expand it to make sure that the data captured can allow a baseline study in some areas to ensure they are well positioned.”

THE SPECS

Engine: Four-cylinder 2.5-litre

Transmission: Seven-speed auto

Power: 165hp

Torque: 241Nm

Price: Dh99,900 to Dh134,000

On sale: now

The specs

Engine: Direct injection 4-cylinder 1.4-litre
Power: 150hp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: From Dh139,000
On sale: Now

UPI facts

More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions

Jewel of the Expo 2020

252 projectors installed on Al Wasl dome

13.6km of steel used in the structure that makes it equal in length to 16 Burj Khalifas

550 tonnes of moulded steel were raised last year to cap the dome

724,000 cubic metres is the space it encloses

Stands taller than the leaning tower of Pisa

Steel trellis dome is one of the largest single structures on site

The size of 16 tennis courts and weighs as much as 500 elephants

Al Wasl means connection in Arabic

World’s largest 360-degree projection surface

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Brief scores:

Toss: South Africa, chose to field

Pakistan: 177 & 294

South Africa: 431 & 43-1

Man of the Match: Faf du Plessis (South Africa)

Series: South Africa lead three-match series 2-0

No.6 Collaborations Project

Ed Sheeran (Atlantic)

COMPANY%20PROFILE
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Airev
Started: September 2023
Founder: Muhammad Khalid
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: Generative AI
Initial investment: Undisclosed
Investment stage: Series A
Investors: Core42
Current number of staff: 47
 
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
Company%20Profile
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Electric scooters: some rules to remember
  • Riders must be 14-years-old or over
  • Wear a protective helmet
  • Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
  • Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
  • Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
  • Do not drive outside designated lanes
The specs
Engine: Long-range single or dual motor with 200kW or 400kW battery
Power: 268bhp / 536bhp
Torque: 343Nm / 686Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Max touring range: 620km / 590km
Price: From Dh250,000 (estimated)
On sale: Later this year
if you go

The flights
Emirates flies to Delhi with fares starting from around Dh760 return, while Etihad fares cost about Dh783 return. From Delhi, there are connecting flights to Lucknow. 
Where to stay
It is advisable to stay in Lucknow and make a day trip to Kannauj. A stay at the Lebua Lucknow hotel, a traditional Lucknowi mansion, is recommended. Prices start from Dh300 per night (excluding taxes). 

How to help

Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200

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Joker: Folie a Deux

Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Brendan Gleeson

Director: Todd Phillips 

Rating: 2/5


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