Jarryd Hayne has returned to the rugby league scene, taking on a mentoring role with the Vodafone Fiji Bati ahead of the Pacific Championship. Reports from both News Corp and The Sydney Morning Herald indicate that Hayne will be working closely with players such as Michael Jennings, Sunia Turuva, Viliame Kikau, and Maika Sivo.
Having already arrived in Fiji, Hayne was seen participating in training on Monday at Albert Park in Suva. Although he will not be returning as a player, he has embraced the mentoring role, drawing from his experience of having represented Fiji on the international rugby stage. This marks Hayne’s first connection with the NRL since 2018.
Fiji’s coach, Wise Kativerata, who played alongside Hayne’s father, Manoa Thompson, mentioned that he reached out to Hayne after his release from prison to check on him and discuss the state of rugby league in Fiji. Kativerata noted that boosting the sport in Fiji could be beneficial for both Hayne and the team. Initially surprised by the offer, Hayne is reportedly enjoying his new role.
Kativerata emphasized that many players on the Fiji team admire Hayne for his significant achievements in rugby league, where he played 214 NRL games and represented Fiji in 10 Tests. Fiji is set to face Papua New Guinea on Saturday.