(JTA) — Jarryd Hayne, a former Australian rugby star trying out for the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers apologized for his “hurtful” tweet, in which he suggested that the Jewish people killed Jesus.

In a tweet addressed to the Jewish community and using the hashtag #WeAreAllOne, Hayne on Wednesday “sincerely” apologized for the tweets, and said: “I have come to understand how my words were hurtful to the Jewish community and this was not my intention.”

He removed the tweets on July 10 after articles about them appeared in Jewish media, and local media called his manager.

“I have and always will accept people of all faiths. I encourage my fans around the world to do the same,” he also tweeted Wednesday.

“Jesus wanted to help people but was killed by his own people,” Hayne tweeted on July 1. A day later he added: “The Jews were the people who took him [Jesus] to the Romans n [sic] forced them to give the order because they couldn’t.”

Hayne, 27, has been one of the best rugby players in his country for years. He is currently trying to earn a spot on the San Francisco 49ers, likely as a kick returner.

In 1965, the Vatican issued the Nostra Aetate, which officially stated that the Jews were not responsible for the death of Jesus.

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