Jarryd Hayne, known for his brief stint in the National Football League (NFL) as a running back, has been convicted of rape after standing trial for the third time. He was found guilty, after being accused of performing non-consensual sexual acts on a woman at her home in Newcastle, Australia, in 2018.
As an athlete, Hayne made a name for himself in both rugby league and American football. Born on February 15, 1988, in Sydney, Australia, Hayne grew up playing rugby league and was eventually signed to the Parramatta Eels in 2006. He quickly became a star player, earning multiple awards and accolades throughout his career, including the Dally M Medal for the NRL’s player of the year in 2014.
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In 2015, Hayne made the surprising decision to leave rugby league and pursue a career in the NFL. Despite having no prior experience playing American football, he impressed coaches with his athleticism and was signed as a running back by the San Francisco 49ers. Hayne’s transition to the NFL was closely followed by media around the world, and he quickly became a fan favorite due to his charisma and determination.
While Hayne showed flashes of brilliance during his brief NFL career, he ultimately struggled to adapt to the different rules and style of play. He was waived by the 49ers in 2016 and later had brief stints with the Fiji rugby sevens team and the Gold Coast Titans in the NRL before retiring from professional sports in 2018.
Off the field, Hayne has been involved in various philanthropic endeavors, including establishing the Jarryd Hayne Future Stars Academy, which provides education and sports training for young Indigenous Australians.
