Hayman not on All Blacks radar

NEW ZEALAND rugby chiefs have poured scorn on reports linking Carl Hayman with a return to the All Blacks jersey for this year’s Rugby World Cup.

Speculation had been fuelled by a report in French newspaper Midi Olympique that medical staff from the NZRU had requested updates from current club Toulon on Hayman’s health and fitness at the end of last year. However, the suggestion that the tighthead prop would be released by Toulon on a three-month contract to play for the World Cup hosts was dismissed as “fanciful” last night by NZRU chief executive Steve Tew.

Any move to bring back Hayman would bring an end to the NZRU’s policy of only selecting players playing at home for the All Blacks but Tew told New Zealand’s Radio Sport: “We are not in discussions with Carl, or the French club, about him being back here for Rugby World Cup.

“Carl’s been a topic of conversation in our place for several years. We tried incredibly hard to try and bring Carl back to New Zealand so that he would be released to play for the All Blacks again, but we failed to do that. He chose Toulon and that is what he has decided to do.”