In America, there is football. On the other side of the world, in Australia, there is rugby. Straddling the two continents is Jarryd Hayne. Making his way onto the San Francisco 49ers’ 53-man roster, Hayne made history as the first rugby player to play on an NFL team.

Hayne, a two-time National Rugby League(Australia) MVP, began his journey toward a career in American football nearly a year ago. He was signed by the San Francisco 49ers in early March, and following an eye-opening preseason, forced his way onto the roster. Though Hayne may not have beaten out the rushing and returning competition, he has clearly proven that he can be one of the best. Used as a running back and punt returner, he finished with 178 yards on 25 carries as a back(7.12 yards per carry compared to established running backs who averaged around 4-5 YPC) and 163 yards on 10 punt returns(16.3 yards per return compared to 16-17 YPR among returners with the same number of return opportunities).

Following the preseason, his first regular season game started off on the wrong foot, as he muffed a punt, giving the ball right back to the Minnesota Vikings. After shaking off the butterflies, however, Hayne settled down, totaling 20 yards as a backup with a long run of 9 yards. He reflected on the experience following the 20-3 win, mentioning, “I was very disappointed with the way I handled the ball,” and “If put in that situation again, it’s something I’ve definitely learned from and if I can’t get a clean catch, then I won’t catch it.” Despite the nervousness, Hayne took a monumental step forward. All eyes will be on him as he pursues his career in the NFL for the San Francisco 49ers.
As some SHC students participate in not only football, but also in club rugby, Hayne may have some company in the future. I asked Nick Downes ’16 a few questions on the matter, and he offered his take on rugby and Hayne.