Former NRL star Jarryd Hayne will return to competitive rugby league for the first time since he was released from prison and his sexual assault convictions were quashed in court.
Hayne had a celebrated NRL career primarily with the Parramatta Eels, debuting in 2006 and earning Dally M Medals in 2009 and 2014 as the league’s best player.
He also represented New South Wales in State of Origin and Australia internationally before leaving the NRL in 2014 to pursue an NFL career with the San Francisco 49ers.
After he was waived by the NFL club, he returned to the NRL for an injury-punctuated two-year stint at the Gold Coast Titans before a 15-game homecoming at 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 time in prison, his convictions were 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 string of court appearances and jail time before his convictions were overturned in 2024
Central Coast United has 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 return to the rugby league field competitively 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 26-27.
‘All aboard the Hayne Plane. Keen to see this man in the 9s format,’ the club posted on social media.
Former Dally M medallist Ben Barba is also set to compete 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 in a coaching capacity earlier this year for the Pacific Championships.
He was an assistant coach for a Fiji side that was ultimately unsuccessful in winning the Pacific Bowl and advancing to the top tier of the championships for 2025.
Hayne also played 10 matches for Fiji during his rugby league career along with five appearances for the Fiji Rugby Sevens side in 2016.
He has also been spotted training in between court appearances and was even working with famed sprint coach Roger Fabri in a bid to be prepared for a sporting comeback.
Hayne was charged in November 2018 with sexual assault 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 in court in June this year
Hayne returned to rugby league in a coaching capacity with Fiji in the Pacific Championships
Footy bad boy Ben Barba (pictured playing for Cronulla in 2016) is also set to play in the same competition as Hayne
The woman accused Hayne of assaulting her at her home, resulting in 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 were unable to reach a unanimous verdict.
In a 2021 retrial, 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 overturned the guilty verdict due to legal errors, ordering a retrial.
In March 2022, Hayne was released on bail as he awaited his third trial, which commenced in early 2023.
The third trial concluded in March 2023 with Hayne again found guilty of two counts 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 once more, and in November 2023, his appeal was upheld, leading to the quashing of his convictions.
Later that month, Hayne was released from prison after serving time in custody since his 2023 sentencing.
