Former rugby star Jarryd Hayne ripped off 53-yard run in fine debut (Video)

Maybe this Jarryd Hayne thing isn’t a gimmick or a sideshow after all.

The former Australian rugby star turned NFL running back made his NFL debut for the San Francisco 49ers on Saturday and immediately flashed some rugby-like run skills with a tremendous 53-yard run.

It was the longest play of the game for the 49ers by 28 yards, and it was the second time he touched the ball in real (as real as preseason gets) game action.

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The run was sprung by great blocks by fullback Bruce Miller and left guard Alex Boone, and then one by tight end Garrett Celek. It put the 49ers in action at the Houston 13-yard line, and it led to their only touchdown of the game.

Hayne came off the field after the team scored and was mobbed by teammates. He finished the 23-10 loss to the Houston Texans with five rushes for 63 yards, being targeted on one pass but did not catch it. He also ran two punts back for 24 yards (including a nifty 12-yarder) as well as one impressive 33-yard kickoff.

That’s an impressive start for a player who never had played a lick of American football before he signed with the team in March.

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Eric Edholm is a writer for Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Eric_Edholm