Former All Black prop Carl Hayman has been suspended by his French rugby club after reportedly being involved in an altercation with some of his players on New Year's Eve.
Hayman, who became Top 14 club Pau's forwards coach in 2016, was reportedly part of a bust-up with unnamed players last week and has since been relieved of his duties.
Pau said in a statement the 39-year-old will remain at the club under contract until June but has been replaced as the forwards coach by Nicolas Godignon.
"Carl is moving on to a personal project which we will support. He will stay with the club until the end of June. Nicolas Godignon will join us next week," Pau president Bernard Pontneau told French broadcaster Canal+.
Pontneau wouldn't share details about the altercation but said the decision to sack Hayman "touches me personally".
"I have a lot of affection for him, for the person that he is. It'd be a feeling shared by the entire club," Pontneau said.
Besides the 45-Test front rower, Pau has a strong New Zealand influence to its ranks with fellow Kiwis Simon Mannix, Conrad Smith and Paul Tito all part of the coaching set-up. The club also has seven New Zealand players in its roster, including 2015 World Cup winner Colin Slade.
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