Hayman: I will decide my future over next two weeks

Mar 4 2010 by Nick Purewal, The Journal

COVETED Falcons captain Carl Hayman has revealed he will finalise his future within the next fortnight.

Still agonising over whether to sign on for more Newcastle action or return to New Zealand for an all-out All Blacks assault on the 2011 World Cup, Hayman said he is closing in on a decision.

As his two-and-a-half year Falcons deal comes to a close, the out-of-contract tighthead prop has not been short of suitors for next term.

While respectful Hayman refused to go into details, The Journal understands that the powerful front-rower’s decision basically boils down to staying in the North East or heading home for that World Cup campaign.

Clearly a number of cash-rich French teams have the resources to top the money queues, but Hayman has always maintained money was never at the forefront of his initial Hemisphere switch and is not top of his priority now.

No doubt some of the figures being thrown around could set him up for life in just his next contract, but the 30-year-old is still comfortably in the prime of his career.

After the painful memories of New Zealand’s 2007 World Cup quarter-final exit at the hands of France, Hayman is one of a number of Kiwi ex-pats with evident unfinished business.

The likes of Luke McAlister did not last too long at Sale before heading back home, and Leicester centre Aaron Mauger made his mind up pretty early this year to head back and put the Webb Ellis Trophy top of his target list.

Hayman has taken to life in the North East with relish though, and has always asserted the chance of him signing on for more Falcons action is not out of the question. If the pressure from across the pond to make up his mind has been intense though, there is still a fair clamour from the Falcons camp, with rugby director Steve Bates admitting he can not forge on with recruitment plans until he has a definite idea who from the current squad is staying for next term.