- Jarryd Hayne’s civil suit returns to court
- Lawyers for the former NRL star returned to court on Wednesday
- He was released from prison in June after two years behind bars.
Former NRL star Jarryd Hayne’s legal troubles are not over despite successfully appealing his rape convictions, with a civil claim returning to court.
The former Parramatta Eels full-back was found guilty last year of two charges of sexually assaulting a woman without her consent at his Newcastle home on the night of the 2018 NRL Grand Final.
The 36-year-old was sentenced to four years and nine months behind bars but was released in June 2024 after those convictions were overturned on appeal.
The first of three criminal trials over the allegations ended in a hung jury, and Hayne successfully appealed the next two.
While the New South Wales Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions has ruled out a fourth trial and dropped the charges, Hayne’s legal concerns are far from over.
Lawyers representing the former State of Origin star returned to court on Wednesday for a directions hearing on a long-running civil claim.
Hayne’s accuser first filed a civil suit over the alleged sexual assault in August 2021, but the matter was put on hold several times amid repeated criminal trials.
Returning to the NSW Supreme Court, lawyer Mary Keaney requested an adjournment to allow both sides to “consider an informal settlement conference”.
Jarryd Hayne’s legal troubles are not over despite his rape convictions being quashed
Hayne’s long-running civil suit returns to court this week in Sydney.
A lawyer representing Mr Hayne agreed to the one-week adjournment, adding that the matter was subject to “a number of adjournments due to other proceedings”.
In agreeing to the adjournment, Recorder Jennifer Hedge told the court the matter would resume on September 4, when a hearing date would likely be set.
Hayne was released from prison in June after two years behind bars.
Hayne was initially charged with sexual assault in 2018, and the case went to trial in late 2020. The jury did not reach a verdict and the case ended in a no-deal.
A new trial began in March 2021, resulting in a guilty verdict, but was successfully appealed less than a year later in February 2022.
The final trial began in May 2023 and resulted in a guilty verdict, which was later also overturned in the Court of Criminal Appeals.
Hayne has always maintained his innocence and pleaded not guilty in court to the charges.