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Newcastle have appointed former All Blacks prop Carl Hayman as captain for the 2009/10 Guinness Premiership season.

The 29-year-old tight-head from Otago takes over from Phil Dowson after the number eight signed to play for Northampton next season.

"It's a privelege to be asked to captain a great club like Newcastle Falcons through such an exciting chapter in its history, especially as a relative newcomer to the North-East," said Haymans, who was capped 45 times by New Zealand.

"With the club's established squad members and our talented new signings, the 2009/10 season is one that supporters, sponsors and players can all be excited about."

After a poor start to last season, the Falcons rallied after Christmas under director of rugby Steve Bates and set a club record six consecutive wins on their way to finishing 10th in the table.

"Carl is someone who commands instant respect right throughout world rugby, and is the natural choice to lead us next season," said Bates.

"He quite rightly has a fearsome reputation as a player, and is the sort of character who will drive up standards right across the board.

"Carl is a very unassuming guy who leads more by example than anything else, but he will say what needs to be said, and will be supported by the outstanding group of senior players we have within our squad."

Newcastle go into next season without several of their star players. In addition to losing Dowson, the Falcons will be without Jonny Wilkinson, Tom May and Jamie Noon.

Wilkinson and May have signed for Toulon while Noon has joined the English contingent at Top 14 rivals Brive.

But Bates has also made several new signings and is confident the club will be able to maintain their late-season form in the next campaign.

Jimmy Gopperth, Tom Biggs, Josh Afu, Rob Vickerman, Charlie Amesbury, James Hudson, Kieran Brookes and Filipo Levi have been added to Bates's squad for next season.

"We're shaping up very well," said Bates.

"We have some really exciting signings on board, some more to come and most of our talented young players have agreed contract extensions, so with our fans backing us to the hilt via season ticket sales there is every reason to be positive."

Terence O'Rorke / Eurosport