49ers coach Chip Kelly’s shock at Hayne move

JARRYD Hayne has experienced his first bump in the road to the Rio Olympic Games, left out of Fjii’s squad.

The journey continues.

JARRYD Hayne has experienced his first bump on the road to the Rio Olympic Games, left out of Fiji’s squad for the London Sevens.

Hayne was not named in Fiji’s initial 12-man squad for this weekend’s tournament, but can still be added in the 11th hour, FOX Sports reported.

Earlier, San Francisco 49ers coach Chip Kelly says he was surprised by Hayne’s announcement he was retiring from the NFL to play rugby sevens for Fiji.

Kelly also doused speculation the 49ers were planning to cut Hayne, which led to the Australian making a face-saving exit. The 49ers instead were bullish on Hayne, praising his ability to pick up Kelly’s new offence and excited about using his powerful, 188cm body and skills.

“He’s a really sharp learner,” Kelly told reporters on Tuesday at the 49ers’ Santa Clara facility.

“We were excited. He’s a big body and has a skill set.”

Hayne and the 49ers announced on Sunday that Hayne had made the decision to quit the NFL to pursue his dream of winning a gold medal at the Olympics.

Kelly said he didn’t speak to Hayne about possibly returning to the 49ers after his Olympics stint, although the team holds his rights.

Kelly seemed to suggest Hayne would have had a decent shot at making the 49ers 53-man roster.

“We didn’t even talk about that,” Kelly said.

“He met with (49ers general manager) Trent (Baalke) first and came down and explained what he wanted to do — that he was going to play for Fiji in the rugby sevens.

“Yeah, I was surprised. I had no idea.”

Hayne faced plenty of competition for the running back and punt or kick return jobs on the 49ers’ 53-man squad.

Kelly said the team’s off-season was still young so he did not have a depth chart ranking where Hayne stood at each position. Kelly wants to see players practising in pads, which will come closer to the start of the NFL season in September.

However, Kelly’s tone showed that Hayne would have had a decent shot at making the 53-man squad.

“I was really impressed with how much he picked up,” Kelly said. “This is his second system.

“He’s only been in the league for two years and has never played football before.”

THE ‘BIDDING WAR’ LOOMS

Parramatta have stayed quiet on their intentions with Hayne.

FOUR NRL clubs have publicly declared their interest in luring Jarryd Hayne back to rugby league once his Olympic Games commitments are over.

However none of them are Parramatta and the Sydney Roosters, both of whom were the only two clubs to decline commenting on whether they would pursue the code-hopping superstar.

While Hayne has yet to even confirm whether he would return to the 13-man game, the Roosters have firmed as favourites for the former Eels No.1, particularly with the Eels closing in on re-signing Corey Norman.

But Gold Coast, St George Illawarra and the Wests Tigers made no attempt to hide their interest on Tuesday, joining Newcastle in the race for the recently retired San Francisco 49er.

Coincidentally, all four clubs are currently financially backed by the governing body.

Dragons coach Paul McGregor made no bones of their want for the former Eels No.1.

“He’s an exceptional talent. I’ve had a little bit to do with him through Fiji and NSW and we’re always after quality players and he is at the top level of that,” McGregor told reporters in Wollongong.

“If he was on the market we would like to be in the mix.”

Wests Tigers boss Justin Pascoe told AAP the club is “always interested in talent”, while Gold Coast counterpart Graham Annesley is “open to discussions” with Hayne.

“Any NRL club would jump at the chance,” Annesley said.

The three clubs voiced their interest in Hayne one day after Knights CEO Matt Gidley said he would book a date with Hayne’s manager Wayne Beavis.

“We’ll definitely meet with his management and have a discussion,” he told the Newcastle Herald.

“We can and will look at bringing in a marquee player, if we feel that’s going to help our squad.”

Melbourne football director Frank Ponissi said they would only be able sign Hayne “if we got him on a cheap deal”, and the remaining nine clubs ruled out making a bid.

Hayne, who sensationally quit the NFL in an attempt to play rugby sevens with Fiji in Rio later this year, has previously said he would only return to Parramatta.

Eels officials declined to comment on Hayne’s potential return to the NRL.

WALLABY’S PRAISE FOR HAYNE

“It’s great to have someone like that in our game.”

JARRYD Hayne’s intention to play rugby union has been welcomed by Wallabies winger Rob Horne, even though his NSW Waratahs side aren’t interested in the former NRL star.

Hayne has retired from the NFL to try to make the Fijian sevens team for the Rio Olympic Games but, if successful, that would make him ineligible to play for the Wallabies.

“The more attention to rugby the better, so it’s great to have someone like that coming into our game,” Horne said.

“Sevens is a great component of our game and, the more rugby is out there, the better.”

Hayne is no certainty to make the Fijian side, which is one of the traditional forces in sevens and will be one of the medal favourites in Rio.

They sit top of the World Series standings.

Horne was non-committal about Hayne’s prospects of cracking the Fijian Olympic squad.

“Who knows? Sevens is one of those games that it’s hard to tell,” Horne said.

“They’ve obviously got an established side.

“If he gets in there and does well, you never know. Sport is a great thing.”

Originally published as 49ers coach Chip Kelly’s shock at Hayne move