Rugby: Hayman earns place in ultimate European XV

When Carl Hayman first moved to France to play for Toulon the whispers went out he was watching more than playing.

But it was just rumour and half truths - Hayman has made an impact with the French club and will this weekend hunt for his third European club title.

Hayman's deeds in Europe have been so impressive that the former Otago and Highlanders prop has just been named in an ultimate European XV.

The team picked by The Guardian rugby writer Robert Kitson includes Hayman and another All Black, former Chiefs winger Sitiveni Sivivatu.

Kitson's brief was players had to have played in at least one European club final and made a significant impact in European club play.

Hayman did not make much of an impact for the first side he played for in Europe - Newcastle - but since he shifted to France in 2010 he has been a key contributor in the start studded Toulon side.

He is captaining Toulon this year.

Hayman (35) is scheduled to hang up his boots at the end of the northern season although he may play for Toulon during the World Cup should the side be short of numbers.

Toulon will look to win a hat trick of European club titles when it takes on Clermont at Twickenham in London this weekend.


Ultimate
Euro XV

Geordan Murphy (Leicester), Sitiveni Sivivatu (Clermont Auvergne), Brian O'Driscoll (Leinster), Matt Giteau (Toulon), Vincent Clerc (Toulouse); Jonathan Sexton (Leinster/Racing Métro), Philippe Carbonneau (Toulouse/Brive), Anthony Foley (Munster), David Wallace (Munster), Rocky Elsom (Leinster), Martin Johnson (Leicester), Paul O'Connell (Munster), Carl Hayman (Toulon), Trevor Leota (Wasps), Cian Healy (Leinster)Replacements: Raphaël Ibañez (Wasps), Graham Rowntree (Leicester), John Hayes (Munster), Simon Shaw (Wasps), Juan Martin Fernández Lobbe (Toulon), Ruan Pienaar (Ulster), Ronan O'Gara (Munster), Wesley Fofana (Clermont Auvergne)


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