49ers player quits NFL to play Olympic rugby

Jarryd Hayne is calling it a g’day and ending his NFL career in order to try to play rugby for Fiji in the Rio Olympics this summer.

“I am retiring from the NFL because the Fiji Rugby Sevens team reached out to me about the opportunity to join the team for the upcoming Olympics, and I simply could not pass that chance up,” Hayne, a pro rugby player in Australia before joining the San Francisco 49ers last year, said in a statement released by the 49ers. “The Olympics has been something I have admired since I was a little boy, and it is an opportunity I feel very similar to me joining the NFL.

“The 49ers organization has been incredibly supportive throughout my journey and I cannot thank them and the support staff enough. I am especially grateful to the strength and conditioning coaches, trainers and medical staff, equipment guys, public relations crew, chefs, logistics, and merchandise staff for their countless hours helping me in many different ways, so I could focus on football. Thank you to the fans from down under, as well as those around the world, who stood behind me and supported me along this amazing journey. I also want to thank the boys, especially my running back brothers, for their help and support in my transition to the NFL. I wish the team nothing but the best for the upcoming season.”

Hayne, a running back/kick returner, had 17 carries for 52 yards, six receptions for 27 yards and eight punt returns last season. Although he was born in Australia, Hayne has a Fijian father and has represented Fiji, which has the world’s best men’s rugby sevens program, in international competition before. It won the 2014-15 World Series season title and is considered likely to repeat with one leg of competition remaining.

He will compete in the team’s upcoming camp in London, where 12 of 14 players will be chosen for the World Series and Olympics rosters.

“I have no promises he is going to make the 12, but we will see how he goes,” Coach Ben Ryan said in a press release. “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.”

Hayne isn’t the only NFL player who hopes to head to Brazil. Nate Ebner, a New England Patriots safety who has played mostly on special teams, is hoping to make the U.S. rugby team. His coach, Mike Friday, says he has a 50-50 chance of making the Olympic team.