Hayne flying in to join Fiji for Rio tilt
Former NRL star Jarryd Hayne will travel to London on Monday to join up with the Fiji Sevens side after the NFL announced his contract has ended with the San Francisco 49ers.
Jarryd Hayne will travel to London on Monday to join up with the Fiji Sevens side ahead of the series finale at Twickenham.
The former NRL star and San Francisco 49ers running-back will join Ben Ryan’s side on Monday when series leaders Fiji land in London for the 10th and final round of the 2015-16 season.
Having taken a step closer to a second successive HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series with their performance in Paris, coach Ryan is looking to further his options before naming his squad for the final round at Twickenham and also for the Olympic Games in August.
“I’ve had a few conversations with Jarryd and followed his career in the NRL in Australia, in the Bati with Fiji, and more recently with the NFL as a running-back for the 49ers,” said Ryan.
“He got a taste for sevens when he was with the boys in Sydney and that sowed a few seeds, and that has just got bigger. He has had a chat with the 49ers and his agent, and I have with everybody else to make sure he is on our accreditation list and to ensure he ticks our boxes, he is a Fijian passport holder, all those sorts of things.
“I have no promises he is going to make the 12, but we will see how he goes. He will then come into Fijian camp for the Olympic period. It is a huge challenge for Jarryd but if he gets into the squad it is only going to be on form, because he is a blinding rugby player. If he doesn’t make it, is just shows how good this Fijian sevens side is.
“It is a no lose situation for me. It is no lose for Jarryd either, he gets himself into the possibility of being a part of this journey, and the boys are all going to learn off him as well. He comes in with an A* but it is up to him to hang onto that, it’s really exciting and really what the Olympics is all about.”
Hayne made 176 appearances for the Parramatta Eels in the NRL before making the move to the NFL and has represented both Australia and Fiji at Rugby League World Cups in 2013 and 2008 respectively.
The running back has been released by San Francisco ahead of the London Sevens and the road to Rio. Rugby sevens makes its debut in the Olympic Games this August in Rio and Fiji will be aiming to win a first-ever medal for their country. A squad of 24 will assemble in June for Fiji’s training camp before the coach name’s a final 12.
“I think any coach would say they’d happily take my job. It is a good challenge to have,” added Ryan. “I want to create this depth and I like to be challenged, you don’t just want to keep skating along. I want someone to come in, who is going to see things differently, I am going to have to make Jarryd is up to speed and I haven’t fogotten things.
“It’s like the overseas boys in Paris. I am checking their technique is right at the breakdown, it keeps me checked as well so I like bringing new players in. It doesn’t make my life any easier but for good reasons it is for us all to get better.
“The camp will be like Britain’s Got Talent or the X Factor, boys are going to get chopped until we get down to 12, it will be like a shootout. All these stars are going to be back, everyone will be fighting hard. I have seen a glimpse of it this week, there is no space to play the competition is so high, it’s always at 110%. We are going to have that for six or seven weeks. I need to get that balance right, but I will stay true to my values and pick on form.”
(Source: http://www.worldrugby.org)