Jared Benjamin Payne (born 13 October 1985) is a former rugby union centre who played for Ulster and the Ireland national team.

[4] He moved to the Blues for the 2011 Super Rugby campaign and was one of the standout players in the competition as he played centre and fullback with flair.

He returned for the start of the 2012/13 season and his flair and dynamic play made him one of Ulster's key playmakers in their run to the Heineken Cup Quarter-Finals and Pro12 Finals.

Payne was forced to retire in May 2018 due to head injury sustained during the 2017 Lions tour, though Ulster announced him as their new defence coach.

In January 2023, Payne took interim charge of Clermont Auvergne following the removal of Jono Gibbes as head coach.