NFL news: Jarryd Hayne's "rugby-esque" touchdown highlights team's first live practice

San Francisco 49ers rookie Jarryd Hayne tasted his first live practice with the team on Monday at Levi’s Stadium. The Australian rugby star’s attempt for an NFL career progressed in the eighth day of Niners’ training camp after Hayne delivered an awe-inspiring touchdown at the end of the team’s 12-snap sequence.

Hayne, one of the 49ers' most notable free agent signings this summer, capped his first live practice with a “rugby-esque” touchdown just before the training session ended. The 27-year-old Australian displayed his ability to overcome multiple defenders, resembling a hard-earned rugby league try.

Hayne only had his fourth-ever practice in shoulder pads, but the training camp results have been impressive so far. Hayne’s first attempt to score a touchdown from the two-yard line at the live practice got flattened by defensive end Tank Carradine. The 49ers hopeful went past linebacker Eli Harold, but got pummeled by the 295-pound Carradine with a loud pop at the goal line.

“With a nickname like Tank, you think all of his hits would be loud,” 49ers defensive coordinator Eric Mangini said, reports CSN Bay Area.

However, Hayne did not seem to be shaken by the full-contact he received from Carradine. The former Parramatta Eels star delivered his final run for a touchdown, shedding tackle attempts from Shayne Skov and LJ McCray, before powering over three more defenders to get the upper half of his body at the end zone.

Left tackle Joe Staley was enthralled by the way Hayne made the touchdown. Staley, who was drafted by the 49ers in the first round of the NFL draft in 2007, noticed the rugby style Hayne applied in the goal line drill.

"I thought that one was pretty rugby-esque. It was kind of lateral, kind of bumping off people,” Staley said, reports Sacramento Bee.

Running backs coach Tom Rathman celebrated Hayne’s touchdown with a jumping body bump as the latter returned to the sideline. Rathman praised Hayne during the club’s first contact training camp last week, after the Aussie running back stopped Nick Moody with his helmet in one joust.

San Francisco will start the team’s final four days of training camp on Wednesday, before heading to the 49ers’ exhibition opener against host Houston Texas. The Niners will cut the 90-man squad to 75 on Sept. 1, then to the 53-man roster on Sept. 5.

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