Former NRL player Jarryd Hayne is returning to rugby league for the first time in six years by taking on a mentoring role with the Vodafone Fiji Bati. The 36-year-old has been included in the team for the upcoming Pacific Championship, just four months after his rape conviction was overturned and he was released from prison.
Hayne, who has proudly represented Fiji from 2008 to 2018, was welcomed to the team’s training camp on Monday. While reflecting on his return, Hayne expressed, “It’s a great opportunity. On my way to the airport, I watched a documentary about the ’08 Rugby League World Cup team, and it struck me how far we’ve come over the past 16 to 17 years. From humble beginnings to now enjoying five-star accommodation, it’s always nice to reminisce about the journey we’ve taken together.”
Bati Coach Wise Kativerata reached out to Hayne after his release, showing concern for his well-being and extending an invitation to join the team. “I wanted to check in and see how he was doing,” Kativerata told the Sydney Morning Herald. “When we spoke, I noticed he was pleased to hear from us and felt it was important for him to be involved with the team given the current landscape of rugby league in Fiji.”
Kativerata recounted how Hayne initially thought the invitation was a joke, but their conversation soon shifted to a serious discussion about the opportunity for both the player and the team. The NRL has officially approved Hayne’s involvement with the Fijian squad.