It’s rare for an athlete to switch football codes and reach the top in both, but Jarryd Hayne did just that—from NRL star with the Parramatta Eels to an NFL running back with the San Francisco 49ers. His career later became overshadowed by a sexual assault case that ended with a successful appeal and his release from prison in June 2024.
NFL rushing yards: 52 · NFL carries: 17 · NFL touchdowns: 0 · Date of birth: 15 February 1988
Quick snapshot
- Jarryd Hayne is an Australian former NRL and NFL athlete.
- He played for the San Francisco 49ers in 2015, with 17 carries for 52 yards and 0 touchdowns.
- He was convicted of sexual assault in 2023, but the conviction was overturned on appeal on 11 June 2024.
- The DPP decided not to proceed with a fourth trial, and he was released from prison on 12 June 2024.
- As of 2025, Hayne is playing semi-professional rugby league for the Wentworthville Magpies in the Ron Massey Cup.
- Whether Hayne will ever return to the NRL or remain in semi-professional football.
- The exact nature of the charges in the original 2018 complaint — some details remain under publication restrictions.
- Full financial impact of the legal case on his net worth.
- Born: 15 February 1988
- NFL debut: 2015 with San Francisco 49ers
- Retired from NFL: 2016 to pursue Olympic rugby sevens
- Alleged offence: night of 2018 NRL grand final
- First trial: hung jury (2020)
- Second trial: guilty verdict (2021) & overturned on appeal
- Third trial: April 2023, guilty on two counts
- Appeal successful: 11 June 2024
- Released from custody: 12 June 2024
- Returned to rugby league with Wentworthville Magpies: 2025
- Playing semi-professional rugby league for the Wentworthville Magpies in the Ron Massey Cup.
- In 2025 he played a trial match for the Campbelltown Saints in the Newcastle RL.
- His potential future in the NRL remains uncertain.
Jarryd Hayne: NRL star turned NFL journeyman
Hayne’s professional rugby league career began with the Parramatta Eels. He quickly established himself as one of the NRL’s most dynamic fullbacks, winning the Dally M Medal in 2009 and earning a reputation for his powerful running and try-scoring ability. After eight seasons with Parramatta, he signed with the San Francisco 49ers in 2015, becoming one of the few NRL players to attempt a switch to American football. His NFL stint lasted one season, with 17 carries for 52 yards and 0 touchdowns.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Jarryd Lee Hayne |
| Date of Birth | 15 February 1988 |
| NFL team | San Francisco 49ers (2015) |
| Current rugby league club | Wentworthville Magpies |
| Conviction status | Quashed on appeal (June 2024) |
| NFL carries | 17 |
| NFL rushing yards | 52 |
| NFL touchdowns | 0 |
Why was Jarryd Hayne released?
Jarryd Hayne was released from prison in June 2024 after the NSW Court of Criminal Appeal quashed his convictions for sexual assault. The court found that the trial judge had made an error by not allowing further cross-examination of the complainant regarding allegations of dishonesty, and that the jury had not been properly instructed on how to assess that material. The DPP subsequently decided not to seek a fourth trial, citing the time Hayne had already served and other public interest factors.
What was Jarryd Hayne convicted of?
Hayne was charged with two counts of sexual intercourse without consent relating to an incident on the night of the 2018 NRL grand final. The complainant alleged that Hayne forced himself upon her in a hotel room after a taxi ride. Hayne has consistently denied the allegations. The first trial in 2021 ended in a hung jury. A second trial in 2021 returned a guilty verdict, but that was quashed on appeal. A third trial in April 2023 again found him guilty on both counts, leading to a prison sentence. The convictions were then overturned on appeal in June 2024.
Why did Jarryd Hayne leave the NFL?
Hayne left the NFL in 2016 after one season with the San Francisco 49ers. In a statement at the time, the 49ers acknowledged his departure, saying, “We respect Jarryd’s decision to return to rugby league and pursue his dream of representing Fiji at the Olympics.” Hayne himself said he wanted to try to make the Fiji rugby sevens team for the Rio 2016 Olympics, though he ultimately did not make the squad.
How did Jarryd Hayne win his appeal?
The conviction appeal succeeded on a technical legal grounds. On 11 June 2024, the NSW Court of Criminal Appeal ruled that the trial judge had erred in not allowing the defence to cross-examine the complainant on certain inconsistencies in her account. The court also found that the judge failed to properly direct the jury on how to treat evidence of the complainant’s alleged dishonesty. As a result, the guilty verdicts were quashed.
“The Director of Public Prosecutions carefully considered the Court of Criminal Appeal decision and determined that a fourth trial would not be in the public interest.”
Why did Hayne leave the NFL?
Hayne left the NFL after a single season with the San Francisco 49ers to pursue a career in rugby sevens with the aim of playing for Fiji at the 2016 Olympics. He never made an Olympic team, but his brief NFL career — 17 carries for 52 yards in 8 games — remains a unique achievement for an Australian athlete who came from rugby league.
What is Jarryd Hayne’s ethnicity?
Hayne is of Fijian heritage through his father, former rugby league player Manoa Thompson. He represented Fiji in rugby league at international level before his NRL career took off. Although born in Australia, he has often spoken about his pride in his Fijian roots.
How did his NFL career compare to his expectations?
Hayne’s transition from rugby league to the NFL was seen as a bold experiment. While he showed flashes of athleticism in pre-season and was named to the 49ers’ 53-man roster, his role diminished during the regular season. He finished with modest statistics: 17 carries for 52 yards and 0 touchdowns. He also returned kicks but never established himself as a consistent offensive contributor. His decision to leave the NFL after one season surprised many, but Hayne stated he had achieved his goal of playing in the NFL and wanted to pursue Olympic rugby.
What is Jarryd Hayne doing now?
As of 2025, Hayne is playing semi-professional rugby league for the Wentworthville Magpies in the Ron Massey Cup, a competition below the NRL. He has also played trial matches for the Campbelltown Saints. In an interview with Nine News Sydney, he described his return to the field as a challenge: “That 80-minute effort nearly killed me.”
Hayne has not been offered an NRL contract, and it remains uncertain whether he will return to the top level of the sport.
Jarryd Hayne’s current team and playing future
As of early 2025, Hayne is playing for the Wentworthville Magpies in the Ron Massey Cup, a semi-professional competition in New South Wales. He also played a trial match for the Campbelltown Saints. There has been no public announcement of any NRL comeback, and it is unclear whether he will play at the top level again.
What are Jarryd Hayne’s career NFL stats?
- Games played: 8
- Rushing attempts: 17
- Rushing yards: 52
- Touchdowns: 0
- Fumbles: 1
Is Jarryd Hayne a Fijian?
Hayne is of Fijian descent through his father. He represented Fiji in rugby league at the 2008 World Cup, and his heritage was a significant part of his identity as he attempted to transition to rugby sevens for Fiji in 2016.
What happened to Jarryd Hayne’s legal case?
Hayne was convicted in 2023 of two counts of sexual intercourse without consent, relating to an incident on the night of the 2018 NRL grand final. He was sentenced to a prison term with a non-parole period expiring in 2025. His convictions were quashed on appeal in June 2024 due to legal errors in the trial. The prosecution subsequently dropped the case, declining to pursue a fourth trial. Hayne was released from prison on 12 June 2024.
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Frequently asked questions
What position did Jarryd Hayne play in the NFL?
He played as a running back and return specialist for the San Francisco 49ers.
How many NRL games did Jarryd Hayne play?
He played 213 NRL games — 194 for the Parramatta Eels and 19 for the Gold Coast Titans.
How much is Jarryd Hayne’s net worth?
Exact figures are not publicly confirmed. His NRL salary, NFL earnings, and legal costs are not disclosed, and no reliable source has reported his net worth.
Did Jarryd Hayne play in the Olympics?
No. He left the NFL in 2016 to attempt to qualify for the Fiji rugby sevens team for the Rio Olympics but did not make the final squad.
How long was Hayne in prison?
He was sentenced in April 2023 and remained in custody until June 2024 — approximately 14 months — when his conviction was quashed and he was released.
What happened in Jarryd Hayne’s first trial?
The first trial in 2020 ended with a hung jury, with the jury unable to reach a verdict.
What were the grounds for Hayne’s successful appeal?
The NSW Court of Criminal Appeal found that the trial judge erred in limiting cross-examination of the complainant and in the directions given to the jury about how to treat that evidence.
Note: Hayne’s NFL statistics remain modest, but his unique path from Parramatta Eels star to NFL player and back to rugby league has cemented his reputation as one of the most talented athletes in Australian sport.
Daniel Harper is Editor-in-Chief at Coast Pulse, overseeing editorial standards, publication decisions and corrections.