Jarrod Saffy

Australian rugby footballer

Jarrod Saffy (born 24 October 1984) is a rugby union player. He played rugby league for the St George Illawarra Dragons in the NRL before switching to rugby union with the Melbourne Rebels for the 2011 Super Rugby season.

He was born in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Saffy moved to Australia as a 15 year old and continued playing rugby union at St Joseph's, Hunters Hill. He represented the Australian Schoolboys, Australian under 21s and the Australian Sevens in rugby union as well as spending some time playing for the NSW Waratahs Academy and Sydney University Football Club. As he has played sevens for Australia he is tied to them in Rugby Union.

Saffy switched to rugby league to progress faster and made his debut in first grade in rugby league in the final round 26 match of 2006 for the Wests Tigers. He made seven first grade appearances for the Tigers in 2007. Saffy played rugby league at second row and also at prop forward. He played in St George's 2010 NRL Grand Final winning team, and thus became the second South African born player to win a premiership. He was eligible to represent Lebanon as well as his native South Africa and he was also eligible to represent Australia in Rugby League.

In April 2010, Saffy became the first NRL player to sign with the Melbourne Rebels Super Rugby franchise. In May 2011 Saffy was named in the Rebels squad to travel to Pretoria and Bloemfontein for the Rebels' "challenging double header" against the Bulls and Cheetahs. In 2013 Saffy trained to be the Rebels first choice openside flanker, in competition with newcomers Scott Fuglistaller and Jordy Reid. Saffy signed with French club US Bressane in November 2013.