NZRU loses battle to lure Carl Hayman home

Carl Hayman is heading to southern France when his current deal with Newcastle runs out at the end of May.

Relevant offers

All Blacks

Former All Blacks captain Tom Willis retires All Blacks to play at La Plata against Argentina Ian Foster reveals why ABs news was a secret Steve Hansen recruits old mate McLean on merit Fox 'on the outside looking in' for All Blacks Ian Foster named All Blacks assistant coach Hansen has much to prove as All Blacks coach Aussie McLean to be added to ABs coaching team Headgear won't protect players from concussion 'Sir Ted' still courted for help with All Blacks

The NZRU has lost the battle to lure Carl Hayman home.

The man regarded as the best tighthead prop in the world is close to completing a deal with the Toulon club. A final agreement between Hayman and club owner Mourad Boujellal is expected to be reached tomorrow in France.

A source in New Zealand has confirmed to Sunday News that Hayman is heading to southern France when his current deal with Newcastle runs out at the end of May, while the French website Le 10 Sport are already proclaiming it a done deal.

Hayman was on a reported $NZ1 million a year with Newcastle, who he captained this year, but he’ll be on even more money at Toulon, where he’ll rake in a staggering $NZ1.22m a season.  Another French club, Clermont, were eager to throw a similar amount of money Hayman’s way.
The decision not to come back can’t be underestimated in terms of the All Blacks’ chances at the World Cup next year.

The All Blacks have failed to settle on a No 3 in Hayman’s absence, especially since Greg Somerville’s departure to Gloucester in 2008.

Although Neemia Tialata seems to have his nose in front of other contenders for the tighthead prop position, Owen Franks, John Afoa and the returning Somerville will all be pushing hard to unseat him.
The All Blacks coaches have made no secret that they’d love to have Hayman back in the mix again. Last December Graham Henry said: “It would be great if Carl came home because he’s probably the best tighthead prop in the world.’’

The All Blacks coaches are still off limits to the media, but last night NZRU CEO Steve Tew said they believed there was still a chance of Hayman coming home.

“We know it [the decision] is imminent,’’ Tew told Sunday News. “We have had a very busy week with both Carl and his people.

“I was talking with his agent late into Friday evening.”

Tew admitted the NZRU could not – and would not – match the money French clubs are prepared to pay Hayman.  The union is expected to announce a big loss next month.

“No we can’t, we never have [matched French offers] and we probably never will,’’ he said.
 
“It’s nothing to do with the financial situation, it’s just what we can realistically afford given the market we have in New Zealand.

“Those numbers come up occasionally in Europe and I’ve heard numbers bigger than that for Carl that are extraordinary.

“There is no rational basis to them. They’re just about a particular club owner wanting to get a particular player and being prepared to pay almost anything for it.

“If it becomes a money decision only for Carl then obviously it’s quite a clear and easy decision for him to make. But if coming home is part of what he wants to do and then have another crack at being an All Black – and if he’s good enough playing in the World Cup next year – then that’s part of the package. But if it’s not, it’s not.”

- © Fairfax NZ News