Decision on Hayman's future close

A decision on where former All Blacks prop Carl Hayman's immediate future lies could be known as early as next week.

Reports this week that Hayman had already signed with French club Toulon were proved to be off the mark, with the club's owner Mourad Boudjellal saying he believed the 45-test veteran would return to New Zealand before next year's Rugby World Cup.

Hayman's three-year contract with Newcastle, reportedly worth close to $1 million annually, expires in May and he is believed to be considering a deal with the New Zealand Rugby Union and several offers from French clubs, including Toulon. The Toulon deal is reportedly worth 450,000 (NZ$960,000).

The NZRU offer is a three-way deal with itself, Taranaki and the Hurricanes. If accepted, Hayman could be playing for Taranaki in the ITM Cup as early as July.

Taranaki Rugby Football Union chief executive Mark Robinson could offer little to the speculation about Hayman's future.

"There is not a lot happening to be honest," he said.

"At this time, any dialogue that is going on will be between Carl's people and the NZRU. If anything progresses there then we are likely to become more involved at that time, if at all."

Robinson said while there had been no timeframe set down for a decision, he believed it will be "in the next week or two".

Hayman, who was born in Opunake and went to New Plymouth Boys' High School for a year, still has family in Taranaki.

- © Fairfax NZ News