Carl Hayman still undecided on NZ return

Reuters

MOST WANTED: Carl Hayman is on the list of overseas players wanted for the All Blacks.

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Former All Black and the NZRU's No 1 target Carl Hayman says he has yet to make a decision over his return home for the 2011 World Cup.

After it had been revealed that the NZRU was putting together a multi-million-dollar deal, that included assistance into purchasing a farm, it had been expected that Hayman's return to New Zealand was fait accompli.

The giant tighthead prop, currently playing with the Newcastle Falcons in England's Premiership, has clearly been identified by All Blacks coach Graham Henry as the one must-have from the flock that has drifted offshore since the last global tournament. And the NZRU has quickly moved to secure the former Otago player's services.

A three-party agreement that would see him return and link with Taranaki, the Hurricanes and the All Blacks was all but a done deal, we were told.

But not so according to the man himself. Hayman has told the Newcastle Falcons website that he has yet to make a decision on his future beyond the final year of his existing deal with the English club which expires in June.

"No, there's no decision on that at the moment," said Hayman, who played 45 tests for the All Blacks between 2001 and '07.
"We're just working through the process of sorting that out, and I guess it would be inappropriate of me to say much more than that until I've made a decision. I'd like to think that will be some time in the next couple of weeks, and once that happens we'll let everyone know."

But Hayman conceded that the lure of another crack at the World Cup was a key factor in his decision.
"There's an option that I'll still be here playing for Newcastle, and there's an option that I'll be elsewhere," he told the club website. "The World Cup is a factor, for sure, but there are also other things to consider and nothing has been decided just yet.
"What I won't allow though is for my decision to be a distraction from anything else, because the most important thing is helping the Falcons to reach the Heineken Cup, to win games for our supporters and to get the club where we want to be.

"I'm absolutely focused on that, it's not distracting at all from the rugby and like all the boys I'm just concentrating on getting the win this Sunday against Bath."

A true professional to the end, then. But Hayman is almost certain to ink the NZRU's deal and return to his homeland to anchor that 2011 World Cup campaign.

Tighthead prop remains a concern in the All Blacks and it's understood Henry has made that clear to his bosses at the NZRU.

They, in turn, have put together the sort of deal that would enable the 30-year-old to turn his back on the riches on offer in the UK.

If he does come back, he will join Richie McCaw and Dan Carter in the top bracket of All Black earners. And the fact that the NZRU has been prepared to go so far outside the square, and throw the farm into the equation, shows just how keen they are to have the big fella - all 1.93m and 119kg of him - back in black.

Another factor that Hayman has to consider is whether Newcastle can avoid relegation from the Premiership, with the club currently ninth of 12 teams, but just four points off the bottom rung.

The Falcons host sixth-placed Bath at Kingston Park this weekend in a crucial encounter as they look to make their way up the standings.

But Hayman, who is the Falcons skipper, was very much taking a glass half-full approach to the rest of the season.

"There's still 40-odd points up for grabs and virtually a third of the season left, so I wouldn't say it's as black and white as saying we're in a survival scrap.
"There's a lot of rugby to be played between now and the end of the season, and the way I see it is that we're in a battle to try and make the top six and secure Heineken Cup rugby.

"Sure, if you look at the bottom of the table then there are a number of teams all within reach of each other around that area, and whilst we're not hiding from that fact we're just choosing to take the positive approach and look up rather than down."

Hayman would dearly love to finish his time at Newcastle on a high note, and though he remains coy over his future it would be a major surprise if he doesn't snap up the NZRU's generous offer and make the trek home.

Expect him to confirm that sooner rather than later.

- © Fairfax NZ News