There was his size, of course.
He was a giant at a time when — unlike today, when even first fives are strapping humans — there were still some rugby players who looked like relatively ordinary human beings.
There is no doubt an official height and playing weight listed somewhere, but all you need to know is that everybody’s first thought back in the day when they heard Hayman’s name was ‘‘sheesh, that boy is a big unit’’.
He was actually so tall he redefined the role of a tighthead prop, a position that had generally been preserved for squat barrels on legs.
His nickname was a one-off, too.
Do not ask me what ‘‘Zharga’’ meant or how it was bestowed upon him.
Hayman also had a distinctive personality that was perhaps at odds with his tough-man persona.
‘‘Underneath was actually a thoughtful soul with a dry humour and powerfully strong levels of loyalty and determination,’’ I wrote a few years ago.
‘‘Those attributes — along with the massive frame, hardened by a rural upbringing and love of the outdoors — helped him forge one of the great New Zealand rugby careers.’’
His immense power and impeccable technique allowed him to dominate the scrum at all levels, his height and arm strength made him one of the great lineout lifters, and his no-nonsense approach and durability endeared him to many a coach.
After waiting for his chance to supplant Kees Meeuws as the Highlanders’ starter, he became arguably the best tighthead prop in the world while at the Highlanders.
While the big bloke with a beard was originally from Taranaki, he embraced the southern lifestyle when he attended King’s High School, played for the New Zealand Colts and earned his apprenticeship with Otago.
Hayman became the 1000th All Black when he made his debut against Manu Samoa, and he had played 45 tests when he elected to head overseas at 27.
He had a stint with the Newcastle Falcons in England before playing 156 games in five years for French club Toulon.
It is impossible to write about Carl Hayman in 2026 without writing about Carl Hayman’s brain.
He shocked the New Zealand rugby community when he revealed in 2023 he had been diagnosed with early-onset dementia and probable chronic traumatic encephalopathy, the neurodegenerative disease known as CTE that has been linked to physical contact sports, particularly American football.
Hayman’s book, Head On, outlined the toll he believed the years of playing a physical sport had on his brain.
‘‘I’ve been working with some people, and someone explained it this way,’’ he told the ODT.
‘‘Everyone’s got a bucket of brains. My bucket is half-full, and it’s got holes in it. So you have to use it wisely.’’
He has also spoken about his battle with alcoholism, which has led to domestic violence charges and a drink-driving sentence, while he has been a key man in the ongoing case taken by former players alleging World Rugby did not do enough to protect them.
Hayman is a father of four living back in Taranaki, where he was operating a historic charter boat.
