Jarryd Hayne…Rugby Star to the NFL?

August 19, 2015

Few people noticed, but I became intrigued when the San Francisco 49ers invited rugby star Jarryd Hayne to training camp. Before coming to the Niners, Hayne played in the NRL (National Rugby League) for the Parramatta Eels. He earned multiple All-Star honors and was named MVP of the league in 2009 and 2014. In 2009, he was picked as the best player in the world by Rugby League International. Hayne has done all of this before the age of 27.

There will be plenty of doubters about how he can make the transition, but I am not one of them. Most of the doubting Thomas's don't know diddly squat about rugby. To play rugby at the international level, you need to be gritty, tough, and a good athlete. You don't find many three hundred pounders on a rugby field; for one thing, the rigors would make them faint. These guys are high tailing down the field, bumping and bruising through grabbing arms and colliding bodies without padding.

So, let's eliminate the toughness factor and look at the skill differences. Hayne is fast and runs a 4.53 forty with a 6'2", 226-pound frame which is sufficient in the NFL. One of the significant differences in rugby versus playing running back in the NFL is the running style. Successful pro backs take on tacklers head-on with a low center of gravity with the ability to shed off arm tacklers. Rugby players don't wear pads, so they run straight up and utilize speed and strength to break off runs. Maybe Hayne won't make it as a running back, but he could be a fit as a returner, flanker, and wide receiver.

In his first exhibition game against the Houston Texans, he had a 33-yard kickoff return, 13-yard punt return, and five carries for 63 yards. Not a bad debut for someone who has never played American football before. He gained some notoriety and respect from some of those doubters. He features some good qualities that I like, such as stiff-arming. When you see a 6' 2'' runner with stiff arms, it only makes sense from a leverage point of view. His rugby style will benefit him when he sees the open field. He appears to possess a strong base and legs, which again is good for breaking off arm tacklers.

It is a good start for Hayne, and if he completes the transition, this may open the doors for other rugby players. This argument has been going on for decades about this comparison. It is only valid for certain types of athletes who have the strength, speed, and stamina, not so much a skill argument. Jarryd Hayne fits that criteria. He is a flat-out great athlete and could have played many sports if he was interested. Salute, Jarryd Hayne!!