BLACKEST OF NIGHTS: Carl Hayman walks off the pitch after the All Blacks' quarter final exit to France in the 2007 World Cup in Cardiff.

Former All Black prop Carl Hayman has hinted at a stint playing back in New Zealand - as well as a future in coaching - as his big-money career in European club rugby draws to a close.

Hayman, who played 45 tests for the All Blacks between 2001 and 2007, is in the last season of his contract with French glamour club Toulon.

Despite not playing a test for seven years, Hayman remains one of New Zealand's best-paid rugby players - and one of the most high profile to leave the Kiwi game when he signed for Newcastle after the 2007 Rugby World Cup.

The 34-year-old is understood to be paid about €41,000 a (NZ$65,000) month, or about NZ$820,000 a season.

That figure puts him ahead of Joe Rokocoko (Bayonne), Rene Ranger (Montpelier) and Ali Williams (also Toulon) as the most well-paid Kiwi in the French Top 14.

With an extension with the reigning European champions - who earlier this month signed All Black Ma'a Nonu on a two-season deal after next year's World Cup - yet to be discussed, Hayman's future is up in the air.

The veteran prop and Toulon captain, who has a young family in France, admits a return to New Zealand is starting to weigh on his mind.

"I've got some choices to make, especially with two young kids," Hayman told Sunday News in Paris.

"Any decisions I make in the near future - especially for their schooling - are quite important to weigh up.

"Whether we stay here for a bit longer or go home, I'm not entirely sure. Ideally, it would be nice to go and play some rugby back home, but we'll see what happens."

Coaching is beginning to factor into Hayman's future thinking, as well.

He is studying for a coaching diploma in Toulon, where he is also coaching a local amateur team.

Former Toulon first-five Jonny Wilkinson, who drop-kicked England to the Rugby World Cup title in 2003, took a role as club kicking coach after retiring at the end of last season. That could mean the glamour club could be open to offering Hayman a similar role with the forwards when he finishes playing. "I'm not sure if it is something professionally that I'd like to involved in, but I quite enjoy the idea of working with young guys, grass roots - or even academy guys or something like that," Hayman said.

"That might change - well, my thoughts on that - but just for the sole fact that coaches move around a lot.

"It's probably worse than being a player - you're always on the move - and especially in France, you're one defeat away from getting the chop. We'll see what happens."

Hayman has played more than 120 games for Toulon since his move from Newcastle in England in 2010.

The Taranaki-born prop has been an important leader in the team as they have rose from mid-table club team to European club rugby powerhouse.

Hayman made the decision to head to France after the New Zealand Rugby Union approached him with an offer to head back home to play for the All Blacks in the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

He stayed in Europe and has no regrets about his choice, with top-flight European club games fuelling his appetite for rugby with big-match intensity.

"You experience the high level of competition with finals rugby here - especially with the European Cup," Hayman said.

"Some of those games are up there with a level of a test match. I made my decision to come over here. You know what you're in for, so you've got to live with it when you make it."

"It hasn't been all plain sailing, but in terms of a life experience it's been really good," he continued. To play some top-level rugby [in France], that has been key as well.

"That was perhaps the disappointing aspect abut moving to Newcastle - we never really, as a club, put anything together.

"It was just one year to the next trying to survive and the club was in a bit of turmoil at the time.

"Since the move to Toulon, we've been in the finals of every competition we've played in.

"Over a five-year period that's some pretty impressive stats. Nothing lasts forever but that's been great to be a part of."

While missing family at home, Hayman has enjoyed the off-field aspect of French rugby.

"My wife and I said when we came here it would be a shame not to embrace the language and make the most of it while we were here, just to get the full experience of what it is like being in a different culture," Hayman said.

"Off the field, it has been amazing - especially down in Toulon, where the sun shines 300-odd days of the year.

"It's good for the old bones as well - they don't hurt as much, so it's been awesome."