Australian rugby star Jarryd Hayne is leaving his team to chase a dream of playing in the NFL.
According to Dennis Passa of the Associated Press, Hayne announced Wednesday that he was leaving his rugby team, the Parramatta Eels, to chase a professional football career.
Hayne, 26, has twice been voted as the best player in the National Rugby League.
“Today I can officially announce that I will be heading to the United States to pursue an opportunity to play American football,” Hayne said. “I’ll be a free agent. It will give me the opportunity to go over there and train and potentially, hopefully, play NFL one day.”
Hayne said he has been thinking about attempting a football career for two years before finally electing to give it a shot.
Several other rugby players have attempted to make the move to football in the past as well with limited success.
Australian Hayden Smith appeared in five games with the New York Jets as a tight end in 2012. He caught one pass for 16 yards.
South African Daniel Adongo was with the Indianapolis Colts this preseason before suffering a biceps injury and landing on injured reserve. American Carlin Isles attempted a jump to football as well with the Detroit Lions before returning to rugby as well.
Hayne hopes to train in the interim with the hopes of making a team next year.