49ers Sign Rugby Star Jarryd Hayne - East Idaho News
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49ers Sign Rugby Star Jarryd Hayne

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10 9 13%20Smith%20A?  SQUARESPACE CACHEVERSION=1425399524318Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images(NEW YORK) — Thinking outside the box, the San Francisco 49ers have signed Australian National Rugby League star Jarryd Hayne to a futures/reserves contract.

Other than rugby, Hayne has no football experience.

Hayne, who was the NRL’s Player of the Year in 2014, turned down deals with the Seattle Seahawks and Detroit Lions to sign with the 49ers.

The 49ers guaranteed Hayne $100,000 whether he ever makes the field or not.

He has been training since October in the United States with former NFL receiver Tim Dwight.

“He’s going to have to come in and play special teams. He’s going to have to learn how to rush the punt and then get back and block for a return,” Dwight told ESPN.com last week. “He’s going to have to learn how to cover a punt, but that should be pretty instinctive to him. We were trying to look at what positions he would play on the field, either offensively or defensively. Rugby, especially being a forward, you’re pretty much an offensive-minded guy.”

At his Pro Day, Hayne measured in at 6-foot-2, 226 pounds.


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