Newcastle prop Carl Hayman won't be making a decision on his future with Newcastle until the end of the season © Getty Images

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Players/Officials: Carl Hayman

Teams: England | New Zealand | Newcastle Falcons

Newcastle Falcons' All Black prop Carl Hayman will not be making any decisions on his playing future until after the end of the Premiership season, with the outcome of Newcastle's bid for league survival a huge factor in any move he may make.

Hayman had been linked heavily with a return to New Zealand before Christmas, with the Hurricanes Super 14 franchise his rumoured destination. He has now moved to quell any speculation of a move before Newcastle's fate is decided.

"All that talk before Christmas was total speculation - I didn't speak to anyone in New Zealand about returning to play rugby," he told the Newcastle Evening Chronicle. "I would love to see out my current contract, but in reality that might not be possible for a number of different reasons.

"If we did get relegated to division one, then the decision about my future would be in the club's hands to a certain extent. But also I would have some really tough decisions to make. If the club weren't heading in the right direction and there was no desire to improve and we were going to be in the same position next year then I would have to think about that too.

"There's a bit of water to go under the bridge yet, and ideally I would love to stay."

With the Falcons currently three points above Bristol in 11th place, they face a difficult end to the season as they attempt to fight clear of relegation trouble.

"There's no reason at all why we can't fight our way out of this," said Hayman. "The season so far hasn't gone as planned, that's fair to say, and there have been a few obstacles put in the way of the team with injuries and other bits and pieces which haven't really helped the cause. But this is a very tight competition where we know we can beat teams.

"We got done hands down last weekend at London Irish, but those sort of blow-out scorelines are pretty rare in this comp and we know we can hold our own against teams.

"Most games in the Guinness Premiership are won by less than one or two scores, and if we start tasting a wee bit of success then winning becomes a habit. So, unfortunately, does losing, but if we can tip the scales in just one of these games I think we'll see it build from there."

Hayman also has faith in the club's future, believing that there is plenty of talent and potential waiting to be brought to the surface.

"The signs here at Newcastle are potentially good, especially when you consider the level of talent that we have in this region, which has impressed me hugely.," he said. "From a long-term view it looks to me like the future he is pretty sound, but the north-east needs a Premiership rugby team to see that come to fruition."

Hayman won 45 caps for the All Blacks before making the switch to the Premiership, and played his club rugby for Otago and the Highlanders. On signing his contract with the Falcons in 2007 Hayman was rumoured to be the world's highest-paid player, earning in the region of £350,000 a year.