Hayman welcome to return

Hayman: Welcome to return

Carl knows that he'd be welcome back. He's been a great All Black and we love him. He's just got to make his own mind up.

Wayne Smith
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New Zealand assistant coach Wayne Smith has named prop Carl Hayman as one of the British-based All Blacks who could be considered for the 2011 World Cup.

The Newcastle front-rower, who is one of several New Zealand stars to head overseas following the 2007 World Cup, is set to meet up with the All Blacks while they are on their European tour.

Smith insists New Zealand's door remains open to the relocated Kiwis and has highlighted Hayman as one of the high-profile players who would be welcome to return.

"I think Carl will probably join the team at some stage to say g'day to the guys," said Smith.

"But he's the sort of guy who makes his own mind up. He's not the sort of guy you coerce into anything.

"You don't want players to be talked into coming back. You want players who really want to come back.

Contenders

"Carl knows that he'd be welcome back. He's been a great All Black and we love him. He's just got to make his own mind up."

While Hayman has been pin-pointed as one of the players who would be accepted back into the fold, Smith would not reveal the names of any other contenders.

"We talked to a lot of the players over here who we thought were a possibility of coming back. Then you've got to leave them to decide what they want to do," he said.

"You'd want them back by the middle of next year to give them a decent crack at it."

Luke McAlister has already returned after his stint with Sale, while lock Chris Jack, who went to Saracens at the end of 2007, will resume his career with the Crusaders in next year's Super 14 competition.