CARL Hayman will make his final appearance for Newcastle Falcons this afternoon, but the All Blacks legend has refused to rule out a possible return to the region in the future.

Hayman will skipper Newcastle in their final game of the season at home to London Wasps before leaving to join French club Toulon in the summer.

The 30-year-old, who has won 48 international caps for his native New Zealand, has enjoyed two eventful seasons at Kingston Park. He will leave to join the growing exodus across the Channel, but will consider a return to the North-East before he announces his retirement.

“It’s been a great experience,”

said Hayman, who will link up with former Falcons team-mate Jonny Wilkinson in southern France. “In terms of results, it hasn’t been ideal, and the team isn’t in the position in the table we would like.

“But on the whole I’ve really enjoyed my time in the North-East and it’s a part of my life I will look back on with fond memories.

“I’ve enjoyed living and playing here, and I could definitely do so again. A few of the boys were talking about it the other day and saying, ‘If you had to pick somewhere in England to play and live, where would it be?’ “We’d all have the North- East at the top of the list. I like the size of Newcastle as a city, there’s a great coastline up and down the place, which helps because a few of us like surfing, and there’s a great community, especially around the rugby club.”

When Hayman agreed to join Newcastle in December 2007, he spoke of helping the club regain their place in the Heineken Cup.

He will leave with that ambition unfulfilled, but has experienced some notable highs and lows along the way.

He has been impressed with the competitiveness of the Guinness Premiership, if a little baffled by the attritional nature of English rugby, and picks out this season’s victories at Bath and Wasps as two of the highlights of his stay.

“It’s very competitive over here,” he said. “That’s the first word that springs to mind.

The Premiership sums that up – you just have to look at the table, there aren’t a lot of points between the teams.

“There are no easy games.

It’s very competitive and uncompromising, and I think it’s a great competition because it’s so close. It’s been interesting to be part of an environment where the rugby is a lot different, during the winter months especially. There have been a lot of forward-orientated games, and to be part of that style of play, which you don’t get a lot in New Zealand, has been interesting.

“I guess the good run we had close to Christmas last year was a highlight, and the away wins we’ve strung together this season. The wins at Bath and Wasps stand out, and to be part of them was fantastic.”

Hayman has recovered from a back injury to take his place in today’s game against a Wasps side who need a victory to have any chance of making the end-of-season play-offs.

New head coach Alan Tait has made four changes to the side that won at Sale Sharks two weeks ago, with Micky Ward replacing Grant Shiells at loose-head prop, Rob Vickerman coming in for the injured Charlie Amesbury and Danny Williams preferred to Tom Biggs.

“It’s a great chance for Carl to say goodbye to the fans, and for our supporters to show their thanks for what he has done for this club,” said Tait.

“Carl is a world-class player who has made a big contribution here, both in terms of his own efforts on the field but equally in terms of developing the other talented props we have here at the club.”

NEWCASTLE FALCONS (vs London Wasps): Tait, Williams, Vickerman, Tu’ipulotu, Bobo, Gopperth, Young; Ward, Vickers, Hayman, Hudson, Swinson, Levi, Wilson, Afu. Replacements: Thompson, Brookes, Shiells, Sorenson, Welch, Charlton, Catterick, Davey.