The social media world reacts to Jarryd Hayne’s retirement from the NFL and switch to Fiji sevens

JARRYD Hayne’s shock decision to quit NFL and chase Olympic gold has caused a predictable stir on social media. Here’s how the world reacted.

Social media reacts to the news Jarryd Hayne is quitting the NFL.

JARRYD Hayne’s shock decision to quit NFL and chase Olympic gold has caused a predictable stir on social media.

The news was announced via both the San Francisco 49ers and World Rugby — shortly after Fiji were beaten by Samoa in the final of the Paris Sevens on Monday morning (AEST).

Fiji coach Ben Ryan tweeted that Hayne would be in the selection mix for the London Sevens this weekend — the last world series tournament before the Rio Olympics in August.

In other news - Jarryd Hayne joins us in camp for London 7s. 14 players to contest the 12 sports for last tournament of @WorldRugby7s

— Ben Ryan Fiji 7s (@benjaminryan) May 15, 2016

New Zealand sevens star and All Blacks World Cup winner Liam Messam is hoping Hayne gets picked for London — despite his lack of experience.

Looking forward to seeing @JarrydHayne in a Fiji 7s jersey. Next week bra ?????

— Liam Messam (@LiamMessam) May 15, 2016

The official NFL Twitter account paid tribute to Hayne while other observers reacted with a mixture of sadness, bemusement, admiration and a case of what might have been.

Cut-back.Stiff arm.@JarrydHayne earned ALL of these 33 yards. https://t.co/cQORseGWHs

— NFL (@NFL) May 15, 2016

Jarryd Hayne showed flashes last preseason. Regular season is a different deal. Would've been interesting to see how he'd fare in Year 2.

— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) May 15, 2016

Honestly... Making the NFL is probably an easier achievement than cracking into the Fijian Sevens team. They're sooo good.

— Tom Read (@traread) May 15, 2016

@FOXRUGBY this reads like an April fools joke ... But it's the middle of May

— Paul Twomey (@toomsta) May 15, 2016

You can't help but applaud Hayne for picking up a sport as schematically complex as American football and earn a NFL spot in his 1st season

— Laurie Horesh (@LaurieHoresh) May 15, 2016

The chief executive of the 49ers, Jed York, Hayne's agent Jack Bechta and Hayne himself all chimed in via social media.

Thank you for the opportunity mate. 4ever thankful, 4ever a 49er 💪🏽 https://t.co/KQDRcsVT71

— jarryd hayne (@JarrydHayne) May 15, 2016

Very excited for client @JarrydHayne to participate in the @Olympics. @49ers have been a class act through the process

— jack bechta (@jackbechta) May 15, 2016

But not everyone was sad to see the Hayne Plane taking off from San Francisco for the last time.

Jarryd Hayne retired. I guess the 9ers season just went down the tubes. Kidding. Most over-hyped non-contributor in a long time.

— Lowell Cohn (@LowellCohn) May 15, 2016

Jarryd Hayne "retiring" from the NFL is like me quitting McDonald's when they gradually stopped giving me shifts after my 18th birthday

— Adrian Crawford (@Crawf33) May 15, 2016

Originally published as The social media world reacts to Jarryd Hayne’s retirement from the NFL and switch to Fiji sevens