NFL eyes on Rugby World Cup: Hayne agent heading to Twickenham

Jarryd Hayne's agent will be at Twickenham when Australia plays England on Sunday. Photo / Getty Images

Jarryd Hayne's agent will be at Twickenham when Australia plays England on Sunday, raising suggestions of a major rugby star defecting to the National Football League.

Jack Bechta is the American football agent who has overseen Hayne's transition from rugby league to the NFL with the San Francisco 49ers and his presence at the Rugby World Cup has tipsters speculating over whether he is targeting another oval ball star for the big-time in the United States.

Hayne quit league club Parramatta Eels for the 49ers and has not looked back in his bid to become a NFL regular with the 49ers.

Many wonder if rugby union can now also be opened up as a channel from rugby league to the NFL.

There have been few union-NFL crossovers. English club player Hayden Smith had a failed stint at the New York Jets before returning to the Saracens club in London.

Bechta says that "Jarryd is a one in 10,000", "a visionary" and warns that it would be tough for any other "rugby athlete" to emulate his feat.

But it hasn't stopped Bechta from flying to London to take in key games at the World Cup.

In terms of the England-Australia match, it's likely his interest would lie mostly in gifted Wallaby fullback Israel Folau while among the English, only fullback Mike Brown looks to have anywhere near the evasive skills of a Hayne. All Black winger Julian Savea is traditionally mooted as the New Zealander most likely to capture attention from NFL scouts.

Jonah Lomu was linked with the NFL in 1995 when the Dallas Cowboys came knocking but there has been little interest in rugby stars since.

However, Hayne's success may have changed that.