Wednesday 2 September 2015 17:38, UK
Australian rugby league star Jarryd Hayne's dream of playing in the NFL is still alive after he survived the latest round of cuts by the San Francisco 49ers.
Hayne switched sports earlier this year to pursue a career in American football and was signed by the 49ers in March.
The 27-year-old has impressed during pre-season, and he will find out on Saturday whether he has made San Francisco's 53-man squad for the 2015 campaign.
But there was no room in the provisional 75-man squad for Britain's Lawrence Okoye, who has been waived by the 49ers for the second year in a row.
So, all of those things I've seen what I need to see. I think it's been a great evaluation on him.
San Francisco head coach Jim Tomsula said he studied tapes of Hayne playing rugby league and is confident the Australian can make a successful switch to the NFL.
Before the cuts were announced, Tomsula said: "I'm pretty confident in Jarryd's ability to field the ball.
"I've watched a tonne of tape on this guy fielding a rugby ball. I've seen him field here at practice. I've seen him field in game situations. I feel very good about his abilities to field. I feel very good about his abilities to perform with a ball in his hands on special teams.
"The coverage parts of it? I've seen a lot of improvement there. The guy will fly down the field in those areas.
"So, all of those things I've seen what I need to see. I think it's been a great evaluation on him."
Hayne's progress has been closely followed back home in Australia, and their rugby team extended an invite on Twitter to watch their World Cup warm-up match against USA in Chicago on Saturday.
The Wallabies tweeted: '@jarrydhayne_1 We're all supporting you! @IzzyFolau's been watching closely ;) We're playing in Chicago- if you're keen to come let us know.'
Hayne replied: 'Love to. Busy chasing dreams tho lol. All the best in the World Cup.'
Watch week one action from the NFL as Pittsburgh Steelers travel to New England Patriots on Sky Sports 1, starting at 1.30am on Friday September 11.
