Rugby
All Black hard-man Hayman signs for Falcons
Newcastle Falcons forwards coach Peter Walton today spoke of his joy as All Black hardman Carl Hayman signed on the dotted line at Kingston Park.
Having secured the signature of the 27-year-old until the end of the 2009/10 campaign, former Scotland international Walton said: “We’ve been looking at a lot of tight forwards around the globe this season, but Carl is undoubtedly the best tight head prop in the world so we’re delighted to have finally signed him.
“He will give us experience, and he will really drive our pack on and help develop the promising players we already have at the club, the likes of Davey Wilson and Micky Ward who will learn a lot from working with him.”
Walton insisted that despite his high profile and worldwide acclaim Hayman will be very much part of a team mentality when he arrives in the north-east on December 1.
“We have brought in a few guys from overseas, but each and every one of them has fitted in to the team ethic we have at the Falcons,” he said.
“We’ve looked closely at their characters, spoken to people who know them well and really integrated them and their families in to the north-east way of life. The Kiwi boys and the other overseas lads have blended in tremendously with the English boys and the north-east region - they’re loving it over here, and I’m sure it will be no different for Carl.
“He is a farming boy and obviously being from the same background myself I think Newcastle is the best place he could have come for the sort of lifestyle he is looking for and is used to.
“He is a big fly-fishing, shooting and country pursuits enthusiast, which suits us very well as a lot of the boys are already in to that side of things. From the people we’ve spoken to who know Carl well, he isn’t somebody with a big ego, he’s a quiet, modest character and a real team man, which means he will be very much at home here. He’ll love the area, and the Cheviot Hills will be just like back home.”
As well as adding undoubted class to the Falcons team Walton believes Hayman will also help develop the current crop of young Newcastle forwards, as well as his own coaching ability.
“I’m only young myself as a coach, and I’m all about learning,” he said.
“He has played against the best players and been coached by the best coaches, so I’m going to learn as much as I can from him. Having Joe McDonnell here has already been a huge help from a coaching point of view because he is someone with a lot of experience and is keen to pass on his knowledge, as a lot of the senior players in other positions also are. Carl is just part of that learning process, but a very big part at that.
“He will help myself and our young players coming through, so that when Carl is at the end of his time with us we have guys like Davey Wilson as the dominant tight head in the Premiership destroying other packs.
“The youngsters need to learn from him. I’ve had a long chat to Davey Wilson and Micky Ward about this, and they’re excited about the prospect of working with Carl and picking up a lot of tips from him as they have already done with Joe McDonnell, who we brought in during the autumn.
“Micky has done a fantastic job this season and bringing in Carl is in no way a reflection on the way he has played. He remains a vital part of our plans, along with Davey, Jon Golding and Johnny Williams. Props never play every game, and having Carl in that pool of talent will benefit everyone.”
Hailing the significance of the signature, however, Walton said: “For people who don’t know rugby, just to put this signing in to context it would rank alongside Newcastle United bringing people like Michael Owen and Alan Shearer to the north-east.
“He really is that good, and the fact that he is leaving New Zealand has been on the front pages of the papers down there every day for the last week. They have been piling on the pressure for him to stay and pretty much every top club in Europe has been chasing him, but he’s chosen to come to Newcastle and we’re delighted he has made that decision.”
Addressing the issue of overseas players, Walton said: “Joe and Carl are both classed as overseas but will be able to play together during parts of the season, the Six Nations, the autumn Tests and the European stuff if there is to be an involvement in that competition.
“If the regulations on overseas players stay the same then for the games where only one is allowed the likelihood is that we will name two props on the bench, start with either Joe or Carl and have the other ready to come on at some point.. That is a situation we were aware of from day one, and we are happy to manage that as we go along.”
Looking at the bigger picture as Hayman joins a rapidly-improving Newcastle pack, Walton said: “Carl came back in to the Highlanders team a couple of weeks ago and he’s been destroying packs over there. Obviously that part of the game is very much a team effort, but Carl gives us a lot of what we have perhaps been lacking at times.
“People talk about his scrummaging, rightly so, but he also offers a lot in other areas such as carrying the ball, driving the maul and lifting in the line out.
“He will use his power. He’s the type of guy who will run hard at someone as if he’s trying to get through a brick wall, and that’s what I want from players. I want guys who believe they can get to the other side of that wall, and I believe Carl will be instrumental in bringing that culture to the rest of the side.
“We have already improved as a pack in a lot of areas this season, because at the start of the campaign there were parts of the game in which we were struggling. We have seen big changes already, and bringing Carl here is only part of the equation. We have Phil Dowson back who is like a new signing, and next season Russell Winter will also be back from his hamstring problem, so we have a great set-up in the forwards as we look ahead.”
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