Jarryd Hayne has reportedly met the Australian Rugby Union (ARU) about a possible switch to the NSW Waratahs in a move that could ruin the Eels’ chances of getting their elite star back into the NRL at Parramatta.

After failing to make the cut for Fiji’s Olympic sevens team for the Rio Games, it was widely expected the ex-San Francisco 49ers’ NFL player would return to the Eels.

However, according to Fairfax Media, Hayne met ARU boss Bill Pulver in Sydney on Wednesday to discuss the prospect of joining fellow code-hopper Israel Folau at the Waratahs in Super Rugby. The meeting was convened at Hayne’s request despite the fact his Fijian allegiance rules him out of playing for the Wallabies.

That would lessen the chances of the ARU, already under financial pressure, topping up his Super Rugby salary unless a new precedent was set.

“We have had dialogue with Jarryd and discussed the potential opportunities available to him in rugby,” Pulver told Fairfax.

“Jarryd is obviously a very high-calibre athlete and we are always open to talking to a player who is genuinely interested in playing the game.”