Click photo to enlarge
Carl Hayman.
Carl Hayman looks to be headed back to New Zealand, but
it appears doubtful he will land back in southern climes.
Hayman is nearing the end of a three year deal at Newcastle
in England and the New Zealand Rugby Union said last month it
had initiated talks to get the big prop back to New Zealand
in time for next year's World Cup.
Hayman played all his senior rugby for Otago but reports at
the weekend indicated he may be headed for Taranaki, the
province where he was born and received his early education.
Otago Rugby Football Union chief executive Richard Reid said
the deal was being driven by the New Zealand Rugby Union,
rather than provincial unions or Super 14 franchises.
The Hurricanes were said to be involved in a deal which would
use third-party funding to help get Hayman back, but Reid
said Otago and the Highlanders had not gone down that road
yet.
He had not been in touch with Hayman's agent but added that
with franchise contracting coming into play next year,
signing players was going to change.
If Hayman was coming back to play for the All Blacks, there
was little point in signing him to play for Otago, as he
would play few games for the province.
The Highlanders could look at signing him but nothing had
been put on the table.
With the Otago union posting a loss of more than $750,000 for
the past financial year, it is hard to see the union, or
indeed the Highlanders, having the clout to get Hayman back.
Hayman (30) is seen as a key by the All Blacks selectors, and
no obvious replacement for the All Blacks has come forward
since he left after the World Cup in 2007.
He played 68 games for Otago, 81 games for the Highlanders
and 45 tests for the All Blacks.
