The inevitable Jarryd Hayne to Union story is gathering pace

It’s the story that could more or less write itself at this stage – as inevitable as the setting sun, the coming of the seasons or Eddie Jones having a dig at the opposition during match week.

Yes, the Jarryd Hayne to Rugby Union story is rearing its head once again.

Fox Sports in Australia are now reporting that the mercurial NRL superstar is considering a move to the 15 man game in time to make the Rugby World Cup for Fiji next year.

Giant Fijian winger Nemani Nadolo told foxsports.com.au. this week: “There’s obviously been talk around the camp that Jarryd’s potentially coming to play for Fiji.”

“Just the excitement of hearing that Jarryd Hayne might be coming across again is pretty exciting.”

Fijian coach John McKee has also suggested he’s open to the idea.

“I’d certainly look at Jarryd’s form if he came back to rugby,” McKee said.

“Realistically it’d be a hard job now with rugby league going through to September; it doesn’t leave much of a window for him. He’s got a lot of good players he’s up against, so if he’s good enough he’ll get in but he’d have to be outplaying some outstanding players.”

Hayne’s agent has apparently denied he and Hayne had spoken of a Union switch, not since a possible move to France was mooted in 2015.

RugbyPass first suggested Hayne as part of a theoretical XV back in January and now Australian journalists are etching out a genuinely possible roadmap to RWC2019 for the Hayne Plane.

Although he has represented Australia in League he did lineout for Fiji at last year’s RLWC, and much has been made of the fact that his contract with the Parramatta Eels is set to expire at the end of this season.

That would give him one Super Rugby season or even the guts of a lucrative Top 14 season in France to get up to speed with Union.

But is the jump possible? Absolutely.

Hayne is no Sam Burgess – his game is built around skill as well as athleticism and power. While a year wasn’t long enough for the Englishman to make the jump from League forward to Union back, Hayne could surely adjust quicker. But quick enough to make a Fijian backline brimming with world-class talent? There in lies the rub.

His recent sporting résume certainly suggests it’s possible.

Any lingering misgiving about Hayne’s footballing abilities will have evaporated when he defied the odds not only to make an NFL roster in 2016, but by excelling just months on from first donning that sport’s famous body armour.

Making the Olympics with the Fijian 7s was too steep a mountain to climb given the time frame he allowed himself. Going from the NFL to the cardio extremes of Sevens was too big an ask.

But the step from League to Union is an altogether more manageable one. The question is, would just one season of Union – be it in Super Rugby or in France – be long enough time for Hayne to acclimatise? Could the disappointment he experienced in his bid to make Rio have chastened him?

If he does risk it, prepare yourself not just for the Hayne Plane but for a giant-sized media Hype Train trailing behind him.