Ex-Highlander, AB Hayman in Brisbane Tens showing

Carl Hayman
Carl Hayman
Former Otago and All Black prop Carl Hayman is set to take the field at the Brisbane Tens.

The 38-year-old will turn out for French club Pau at the event on February 9 and 10.

Having retired from rugby in 2015, Hayman made a comeback midway through last year for French fifth division amateur club Bizanos.

It is over 10 years since Hayman appeared in Super Rugby — having played the last of 81 matches for the Highlanders in 2007.

He played in England and France for the next eight years, but was looking forward to playing against teams from the southern hemisphere again, he said.

"It will be pretty interesting to see how a 38-year-old goes against all these Super Rugby boys," Hayman said.

"The boss asked me if I’d be keen to have a run and I thought ‘why not’?

"It’ll be nice to chuck the boots on and get out there and run around."

Pau coach Simon Mannix said Hayman remained in good shape, and continued to work hard in the gym.

However, Hayman said  he knew  the game would be fast.

"I am going to enjoy getting back out there, getting back into playing with players at that level," Hayman said.

"I’ve been putting the training in and keeping in reasonable nick as I know it is going to be pretty fast.

"I played in the Hong Kong Tens a year ago, so I know that Tens is an exciting brand of rugby — definitely very fast.

"It’s great for our club to be coming to a tournament like this," Hayman said.

Hayman played 45 tests for the All Blacks and the 1.94m, 120kg player was known as a formidable force.

Alongside his appearances for the Highlanders, he also played 68 times for Otago.

The Pau side also boasts several other New Zealanders in former Highlanders Jamie Mackintosh and Colin Slade, as well as Conrad Smith, Tom Taylor, Benson Stanley and Frank Halai.

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