Jarryd Hayne won't be playing at the Waratahs next season, after CEO Andrew Hore ruled out offering the cross-code star a NSW contract.
Hore said the move was a watershed moment for the club.
“We’re not going to pursue Jarryd at this present point in time, and I think it’s a bit of a watershed moment for the organisation,” Hore said to foxsports.com.au.
“We feel with the fact that we’ve combined both NSW and Waratahs rugby that our first priority has got to be making NSW a great rugby state again and that’s got to be our primary focus.
“We think the issues in our game are that broad and deep that we want to focus on resolving those, and when you’ve already got 10-plus Wallabies — plus Israel Folau in our team — we feel that there’s enough star-power there at this stage.
“Maybe it’s about utilising their skillset more, while at the same time increasing investment into the things that are going to make us a great rugby state once again.”
Hayne's Super Rugby move was always going to be a difficult one, with the former Parramatta Eels star ineligible for the Wallabies after a stint with the Sevens, making it difficult for the governing body to top up his contract.
The ARU had expressed interest in helping Hayne come to rugby, though, with reports of flexible contracts that involved Japan opportunities.
