Jarryd Hayne is about to play footy for the first time since he was jailed for rape before the charges were overturned
Former NRL star Jarryd Hayne is returning to competitive rugby for the first time since he was released from prison and had his sexual assault convictions quashed in court.
Hayne had a celebrated NRL career, mainly with the Parramatta Eels, making his debut in 2006 and earning Dally M medals in 2009 and 2014 as the competition’s best player.
He also represented New South Wales internationally in his home state and Australia before leaving the NRL in 2014 to pursue an NFL career with the San Francisco 49ers.
After the NFL club waived him, he returned to the NRL for an injury-interrupted two-year stint with the Gold Coast Titans before a 15-game home run in Parramatta in 2018.
His NRL career was effectively ended when the 36-year-old was charged with sexual assault in 2018, leading to three trials between 2020 and 2023.
After being convicted twice and serving a prison sentence, his conviction was overturned on appeal in November 2023 and he was released.
Jarryd Hayne was one of the most entertaining players in the NRL until his career was ended by a series of court cases and jail time before his convictions were overturned in 2024.
Central Coast United have signed Jarryd Hayne to play in a tournament on the Gold Coast
Hayne, pictured leaving prison in June, has always maintained his innocence
Now Hayne is set to make a competitive return to the rugby league field for the first time since 2018 after signing to play for United Sporting Club for the Nines Premier League on the Gold Coast from January 26 to 27.
“Everyone aboard the Hayne plane. I would like to see this man in the 9s format,” the club posted on social media.
Former Dally M medalist Ben Barba will also take part in the 2025 tournament, which has attracted former NRL talent including Andrew Fifita, Blake Austin and Jeremy Latimore, who have all played for United.
It comes after Hayne joined the Fiji team as coach for the Pacific Championships earlier this year.
He was an assistant coach for a Fijian side that ultimately failed to win the Pacific Bowl and progress to the top level of the championships for 2025.
Hayne also made 10 appearances for Fiji during his rugby league career, along with five appearances for the Fiji Rugby Sevens side in 2016.
He was also seen training between court appearances and even working with famed sprint coach Roger Fabri to prepare for a sporting comeback.
Hayne was charged with assault in November 2018 following an alleged incident with a woman in Newcastle on the night of the 2018 NRL Grand Final.
Hayne is pictured shedding tears of relief after his convictions were overturned by the court in June this year
Hayne returned to rugby league as a coach with Fiji in the Pacific Championships
Footy bad boy Ben Barba (pictured playing for Cronulla in 2016) will also play in the same league as Hayne
The woman accused Hayne of assaulting her at her home, causing injuries, while Hayne maintained his innocence and pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Hayne’s first trial in 2020 ended with a hung jury as jurors could not reach a unanimous verdict.
In a retrial in 2021, Hayne was found guilty of two counts of sexual assault and sentenced to five years and nine months in prison.
However, Hayne appealed the conviction, and in February 2022 the New South Wales Court of Criminal Appeal quashed the guilty verdict due to legal errors and ordered a retrial.
In March 2022, Hayne was released on bail pending his third trial, which began in early 2023.
The third trial concluded in March 2023, with Hayne again found guilty of two charges of sexual assault.
On May 4, 2023, he was sentenced to four years and nine months in prison, with a non-parole period of three years.
Hayne appealed the conviction again and in November 2023 his appeal was upheld, leading to the quashing of his convictions.
Later that month, Hayne was released from prison after being in custody since his 2023 conviction.