Former Rugby star, Jarryd Hayne has has won an appeal against two sexual assault convictions. Hayne, 33, was found guilty of attacking a 26-year-old woman in her house in New South Wales on the night of the 2018 National Rugby League (NRL) grand final. He was then sentenced to jail for a maximum of five years and nine months last May.

The former player had been convicted at a second trial after his first ended with a hung jury.

But the state’s court of criminal appeal has now quashed his convictions and ordered a retrial after Hayne’s legal team argued his conviction had been based on “flawed” directions given to the jury.

In his 2021 sentencing, Judge Helen Syme said Hayne was fully aware the woman didn’t consent, but went ahead anyway.

Hayne is one of Rugby’s most high-profile athletes and as at the time his case came up there was huge public outcry due to the rising cases of rape in Australia.