Jarryd Hayne has shot down reports of a possible return to the NRL, says those rumours are “stupid” and “foolish”.

NFL playing time has been scarce for Hayne since he was waived and eventually placed on the 49ers’ practice squad, but the San Francisco running back laughed off the rumoured return to Australia.

• Jarryd Hayne ‘no chance’ of making NRL return
• Mick Fanning still spooked
• Football star slaps down WWE wrestler

“If I was going to go back [to Australia], I wouldn’t have even come [to America],” the two-time Dally M Medal winner said.

“Media back home is obviously just trying to make stories and use my name to make headlines.

“It’s just foolish and only fools would believe that.”

Hayne said it does not take a rocket scientist to know any NRL team would welcome him with wide-open arms, but his focus is going forward, not looking back.

“If I can come this far in five or six months, imagine how much further I can go in 12 months,” he said.

“That’s definitely my mindset.”

The 27-year-old has not gotten on the field for the 49ers since he made a costly fumble in the team’s round-six clash with Baltimore in mid-October and it does not look like he will be getting any playing time this week either.

Coach Jim Tomsula said the former Eels, Blues and Kangaroos star would not play against rivals Seattle on Monday (AEDT) despite star running back Carlos Hyde being ruled out yet again due to a foot injury.

Shaun Draughn, a former running back for the Cleveland Browns and signed by the 49ers after Hayne was cut, will likely start against the Seahawks.

ABC/AAP