Jarryd Hayne celebrates having his sexual assault convictions quashed with a night out in Sydney – ‘life’s good’

Former NRL star Jarryd Hayne has celebrated having his sexual assault convictions overturned with a night out on the town in Sydney.

Hayne, 36, took to Facebook on Friday and posted photos of two locations at Circular Quay.

In one of the images, the Parramatta Eels declared: ‘Life is good.’

It comes after sex abuse charges were officially dropped this week, a court was told, but Hayne still has a civil lawsuit hanging over his head.

Just days after the Director of Public Prosecutions announced they would not proceed with a fourth trial against the former Parramatta and Gold Coast fullback, Hayne appeared with his lawyers in Sydney’s Downing Centre District Court on Friday.

Judge Craig Everson was told that the prosecution had withdrawn two charges of sexual intercourse without consent.

Hayne has consistently denied the allegations and his conviction has been overturned twice by the Court of Criminal Appeal.

He burst into tears and said he was “staying true” to himself as he thanked God and the people who had supported him during the long legal saga over the alleged attack.

Hayne (pictured playing for the Eels) has consistently denied the allegations and has had his conviction twice quashed by the Court of Criminal Appeal

The former NSW Blues Origin winger also joked that he now looks more like a front rower after arriving in prison, while denying the possibility of returning to football at the age of 36.

Hayne was released earlier this month after his convictions were quashed.

He spent more than a year behind bars after a jury found him guilty of two counts of sexual intercourse without consent in April 2023.

The director of public prosecutions confirmed in a statement on Tuesday that he will not face a fourth trial.

“Yes, obviously excited,” Hayne said outside the courtroom, looking relieved as he walked out with his barrister Margaret Cunneen SC and prosecutor Lauren MacDougall.

‘I stayed true to myself the whole time, the whole process. It is a vindication for myself, my family and my loved ones.

“I want to thank everyone who has supported me from day one, stood by me and stood beside me.

‘It’s been a rollercoaster. I appreciate the guys on the inside who stood by me, comrades on the outside and everyone who stood shoulder to shoulder with me.

“When I think of everyone who prayed for me, I thank God for keeping me safe, not only myself but also my wife, and what she went through.

An emotional Hayne made a surprise appearance in court in Sydney on Friday (pictured) as the sexual abuse charges against him were officially dropped

The former Parramatta Eels star shed tears as he thanked God and his supporters before joking about how much his body had changed in prison, while expressing doubts about his chances of returning to football after regaining his freedom.

The 36-year-old (pictured outside court on Friday) said dropping the charges was ‘a vindication for myself, my family and my loved ones’

Hayne (pictured released from prison earlier this month) spent more than a year behind bars after a jury found him guilty in a verdict that has since been overturned on appeal

‘It was heavy. I’m just grateful for all the support.”

When asked if he would play football again, Hayne laughed and said: ‘I look like a front rower.’

“After carefully considering the many competing factors which inform the public interest assessment in this case, the ODPP has decided not to proceed with a fourth trial of Mr Hayne,” the DPP told the hearing.

The two-time Dally M winner and NFL convert has always denied the allegations, claiming the sexual encounter at the woman’s Newcastle home during the 2018 NRL finals was entirely consensual.

His first trial in 2021 resulted in a jury that could not reach an agreement. After a second trial, he was found guilty, but the verdict was overturned on appeal.

After a third trial, a jury accepted the woman’s version of events, which included her repeatedly saying “no” and “stop.”

However, the state Supreme Court overturned Mr. Hayne’s conviction after ruling that the trial judge erred in not allowing further questioning of the prosecutor.

The appeal was upheld by a majority of 2-1 by the Court of Criminal Appeal.

In her part of the verdict, Judge Deborah Sweeney said the guilty verdicts were unreasonable and that she “considered that there is a significant possibility that an innocent person has been convicted.”

Hayne still faces a civil lawsuit from his accuser, who is suing him for an undisclosed amount over the alleged assault.