By the time he had left at the end of the 2007 World Cup for an overseas contract Carl Hayman, notwithstanding the All Blacks’ quarterfinal exit, was generally seen as the world’s best tighthead prop and one of the best New Zealand has produced in the position.

Scrum authorities generally rate him second only to the legendary strong man of the 1960s, Ken Gray, though comparisons between the modern era and those of 30 to 40 years ago have become increasingly difficult.

Hayman evoked many memories of Gray, for he, too, was considered too tall and with too long a back to be an ideal prop. Hayman, indeed, was even bigger than Gray: 1.93m (6ft 4in) as against Gray’s 1.88m (6.2). But, as with Gray, Hayman’s build did not appear to be too much of a handicap and in recent years there have been other international props with a similar physique.

Hayman’s virtues were a strong scrummaging technique, surprising mobility and nous in the open and, with the radical law changes in lineouts, considerable ability as an effective lifter.

In scrums, with Tony Woodcock on the loosehead side, and either Anton Oliver or Keven Mealamu hooking, the All Blacks front rows during the mid 2000’s were rarely bettered.

Though originally from Taranaki, Hayman moved to Otago with his family and his immense promise was first noted when he attended Dunedin’s King’s High School, from which he made the national schools and age group sides. From high school he moved onto Dunedin’s famous Southern club, though his involvement as a professional player has meant few club appearances.

Hayman played the first of 68 games for Otago in 1998 and was in the Highlanders in the Super 12 in 1999. But with other All Blacks Kees Meeuws, Carl Hoeft and Joe McDonnell ahead of him the 1998-99 seasons were effectively an apprenticeship. However, his promise had been noted at national level. In 1998-2000 he was in the New Zealand Colts and he was in the New Zealand A side which made a tour of Europe late in 2000, under the coaching of Robbie Deans and Steve Hansen.

In 2001 Hayman became the 1000th player to appear for the All Blacks when he went on as a replacement in 2001 test against Manu Samoa at the North Harbour Stadium. But Hayman took a while to establish a regular All Black spot, his later appearances in 2001 and 2002 being either sporadic or mainly as a substitute.

He was overlooked totally for the 2003 season and it was only in 2004, following an outstanding Super 12 with the Highlanders, and when John Mitchell had been replaced by Graham Henry as coach, that he became an All Blacks’ first choice. A touch of Maori ancestry enabled him to play for that national side as well, and he played a prominent part in the famous win over the touring Lions in Hamilton in 2005. He was awarded the Tom French Cuo for “Maori Player of the Year” in 2004.

Between 2004 and 2007 Hayman was the corner-stone of the All Black pack, and but for his departure at the end of 2007 for an overseas contract he would have added substantially to a test tally of 45 appearances. As well he had played 81 Super 12/14 games and 68 times for Otago.

As an extremely big man, Hayman was one of the All Blacks who seemed to be most disadvantaged by playing so sparingly through the 2007 season. He played well enough at the World Cup in France, but with not quite the same dominance and edge he had had shown in the previous three seasons.

Hayman was still a few weeks short of his 28th birthday when he moved off-shore, young in propping terms and clearly with plenty of top rugby left. That raised a hope that eventually New Zealand rugby might see him again.

Profile by Lindsay Knight
for the New Zealand Rugby Museum.

FULL NAME

Carl Joseph Hayman

BORN

Wednesday, 14 November 1979 in Opunake

AGE

30

PHYSICAL

1.93m, 115kg

POSITION

Prop

LAST SCHOOL

King's High

RUGBY CLUB
(First made All Blacks from)

Southern

PROVINCE

Otago

RUGBY NICKNAME

Zarg

ALL BLACK DEBUT

Saturday, 16 June 2001
v Samoa at Albany
aged 21 years, 214 days

INTERNATIONAL DEBUT

Saturday, 16 June 2001
v Samoa at Albany
aged 21 years, 214 days

LAST TEST

Saturday, 6 October 2007
v France at Cardiff
aged 27 years, 326 days

ALL BLACK TESTS

45 (0 as Captain)

ALL BLACK GAMES

1 (0 as Captain)

TOTAL ALL BLACK MATCHES

46 (0 as Captain)

ALL BLACK TEST POINTS

10pts (2t, 0c, 0p, 0dg, 0m)

ALL BLACK GAME POINTS

0pts

TOTAL ALL BLACK POINTS

10pts (2t, 0c, 0p, 0dg, 0m)

ALL BLACK NUMBER

1000

The All Black Games that Hayman played.
(+) = substitute; (-) = replaced

Click on the date to be taken to the Match Card

2001

 16 Jun vs Samoa at Albany 50-6 (+) 

 23 Jun vs Argentina at Christchurch 67-19  

 30 Jun vs France at Wellington 37-12 (+) 

 11 Aug vs Australia at Dunedin 15-23 (+) 

 25 Aug vs South Africa at Auckland 26-15 (+) 

 1 Sep vs Australia at Sydney 26-29 (+) 

2002

 16 Nov vs France at Paris 20-20 (+) 

 23 Nov vs Wales at Cardiff 43-17 (-) 

2004

 12 Jun vs England at Dunedin 36-3  

 19 Jun vs England at Auckland 36-12  

 10 Jul vs Pacific Islanders at Albany 41-26  

 17 Jul vs Australia at Wellington 16-7  

 7 Aug vs Australia at Sydney 18-23  

 14 Aug vs South Africa at Johannesburg 26-40  

 13 Nov vs Italy at Rome 59-10  

 20 Nov vs Wales at Cardiff 26-25 (+) 

 27 Nov vs France at Paris 45-6  

 4 Dec vs Barbarians at London 47-19 (+) 

2005

 25 Jun vs British & Irish Lions at Christchurch 21-3  

 6 Aug vs South Africa at Capetown 16-22 (-) 

 13 Aug vs Australia at Sydney 30-13 (-) 

 27 Aug vs South Africa at Dunedin 31-27 (-) 

 3 Sep vs Australia at Auckland 34-24 (-) 

 5 Nov vs Wales at Cardiff 41-3  

 19 Nov vs England at London 23-19  

2006

 10 Jun vs Ireland at Hamilton 34-23  

 17 Jun vs Ireland at Auckland 27-17  

 8 Jul vs Australia at Christchurch 32-12  

 22 Jul vs South Africa at Wellington 35-17  

 29 Jul vs Australia at Brisbane 13-9  

 19 Aug vs Australia at Auckland 34-27 (-) 

 2 Sep vs South Africa at Rustenberg 20-21  

 5 Nov vs England at London 41-20 (-) 

 11 Nov vs France at Lyon 47-3  

 18 Nov vs France at Paris 23-11  

 25 Nov vs Wales at Cardiff 45-10  

2007

 2 Jun vs France at Auckland 42-11 (-) 

 9 Jun vs France at Wellington 61-10  

 23 Jun vs South Africa at Durban 26-21  

 30 Jun vs Australia at Melbourne 15-20  

 14 Jul vs South Africa at Christchurch 33-6 (-) 

 21 Jul vs Australia at Auckland 26-12  

 8 Sep vs Italy at Marseille 76-14  

 15 Sep vs Portugal at Lyon 108-13 (+) 

 23 Sep vs Scotland at Edinburgh 40-0 (-) 

 6 Oct vs France at Cardiff 18-20  

Points scored for the All Blacks

t

c

p

dg

pts

vs England, 5 Nov 2006

1

-

-

-

5

vs Portugal, 15 Sep 2007

1

-

-

-

5

Totals

2

0

0

0

10

Test Record by Nation

P

W

D

L

t

c

p

dg

pts

Argentina

1

1

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Australia

11

7

-

4

-

-

-

-

-

British & Irish Lions

1

1

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

England

4

4

-

-

1

-

-

-

5

France

8

6

1

1

-

-

-

-

-

Ireland

2

2

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Italy

2

2

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Pacific Islanders

1

1

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Portugal

1

1

-

-

1

-

-

-

5

Samoa

1

1

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Scotland

1

1

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

South Africa

8

5

-

3

-

-

-

-

-

Wales

4

4

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Totals

45

36

1

8

2

0

0

0

10