Australian fans wanting to join Jarryd Hayne on his NFL adventure will be able to do so, as the Seven Network has announced it will broadcast a host of San Francisco 49ers matches during the 2015-16 season.
The former rugby league star made the final cut to coach Jim Tomsula’s squad on Sunday to realise a longstanding dream of becoming an NFL player, capping an exhilarating few weeks during which his story captured the imagination of the Australian public.
Seven have been quick to capitalise on that interest, announcing they will show a minimum of 14 49ers games this season as part of a broader package that allows the transmission of three consecutive live games every week.
The network has also acquired the rights to show the Super Bowl, the playoffs, the traditional Kickoff Game and Thanksgiving matches. Games will be shown on free-to-air channel 7Mate.
But fans hoping to catch the Hayne Plane in action will have to be prepared to stay up late – or get up early – as the time difference means most matches will not start until the early hours of the morning in Australia.
The deal does not include the game in which Hayne may make his debut, against the Minnesota Vikings on 14 September. That match – billed as Monday Night Football in the States – will be broadcast on pay TV station ESPN on Tuesday morning in Australia.
The first match to be broadcast by Seven will be the 49ers’ second game of the season, against the Pittsburgh Steelers early on Monday 21 September.
Australian interest in Hayne has nearly been matched in the US, where his No38 jersey has quickly become the most sought after and is the top-selling shirt in the NFL’s online store, where it retails for US$99.95 (AU$144.55).
San Francisco games to be shown live on Seven in Australia (all AEST)
Monday 21 September: 49ers v Steelers at 3am
Monday 28 September: 49ers v Cardinals at 6.05am
Monday 5 October: Packers v 49ers at 7.30am
Monday 12 October: 49ers v Giants at 11.30am
Monday 19 October: Ravens v 49ers at 7.30am
Monday 2 November: 49ers v Rams at 5am
Monday 9 November: Falcons v 49ers at 6.05am
Monday 23November: 49ers v Seahawks at 8.30am
Monday 30 November: Cardinals v 49ers at 6.05am
Monday 7 December: 49ers v Bears at 5am
Monday 14 December: 49ers v Browns at 5am
Monday 21 December: Bengals v 49ers at 12.30am
Monday 28 December: 49ers v Lions at 5am
Monday 4 January: Rams v 49ers at 8.30am
