KEY POINTS:
Under seige from foreign raiders and with their own finances pinched, the New Zealand Rugby Union is just about holding its own in the battle to retain talent with hopes high the world's best prop will stay put.
Carl Hayman is off contract at the end of this
year and understandably, given he is widely regarded as the best tight-head prop in the world, has attracted significant off-shore interest.
English Premiership strugglers Newcastle - the club for whom Jonny Wilkinson plays - have made an offer that Hayman is considering seriously.
Hayman, though, is also progressing talks with the New Zealand Rugby Union about a contract extension and will make a decision about his playing future after he has evaluated both deals.
Should Hayman reject the advances of Newcastle, it will be a massive victory for the NZRU as of all the current All Blacks coming off contract after the World Cup, the 27-year-old was always going to be the player most in demand.
If a list of the world's most valuable players was ever compiled it would probably be headed by Daniel Carter with Wilkinson second and Richie McCaw third.
Goal-kicking first five-eighths and ball-snaffling opensides never lose their market value and Carter, Wilkinson and McCaw have the skills and profile to put bums on seats at any ground in the world.
Perhaps surprisingly, Hayman would probably sit fourth on the world list as the emphasis that has been put back on the set-piece in recent years has seen the market value of props go through the roof.
Globally, there is a dearth of high-quality frontrowers capable of holding a scrum steady. Because the position carries a high attrition rate and teams are required always to have cover on the bench, a prop with even a modest pedigree can pick up a contract in line with what is paid to some seriously good outside backs.
Hayman, as a destructive scrummager, efficient lineout lifter and mobile ball-carrier, is the sort of player every club would feel they could build their team around.
He is the foundation stone of the All Black pack and the fact he has matured into the best prop in the world at the same time as New Zealand have arguably become the best scrummaging side in the world is not coincidental.
Still only 27, Hayman has plenty of good years left in him and if the adage of props only peaking in their 30s is true, he could be an even better player come 2011.
The NZRU are aware of Hayman's worth and deputy chief executive Steve Tew said: "We have a very strong desire to retain Carl and are talking to him about that.
"I don't think you need to be a rocket scientist to know that Carl is a very important part of the All Black side."
The NZRU are likely to see Chris Jack depart after the World Cup as well as Anton Oliver. Aaron Mauger has already signed with Leicester and Byron Kelleher confirmed on Friday night he's off to Agen.
Other current All Blacks have also been bombarded with offers to head off-shore but two, Doug Howlett and Ali Williams, have made strong noises about staying put while Nick Evans has confirmed he will not be heading to Agen.
Luke McAlister is also off contract at the end of the year but is thought to be swaying towards a contract extension with the NZRU, especially now that Mauger has confirmed his departure.
If Hayman, McAlister, Williams and Howlett can all be persuaded to stay it will be a major endorsement of the improved terms and conditions on offer to top players in New Zealand.
A number of French clubs in particular have offered crazy money to capture All Black signatures.
