John Hayes (rugby player)

Infobox Rugby Union biography
playername = John Hayes


fullname = John James Hayes
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1973|11|2
cityofbirth = Cappamore, Munster
countryofbirth = Ireland
height = height|ft=6|in=4
weight = 19 st 10 lbs (125 kg)
nickname = The Bull, Calf, Bullock
school = Doon CBS
university =
relatives =
position = Prop
currentclub = Munster
clubnumber = 3
youthyears =
youthclubs = Bruff RFC
years =

1998 ‐
2004 ‐
clubs = Shannon RFC
Invercargill
Munster
Bruff RFC
caps(points) =

129 (20)
repyears = 2000 ‐
2005
repteam = Ireland
British and Irish Lions
repcaps(points) = 82 (10)
pcupdate =
repupdate =

John James "Bull" Hayes (b. 2 November 1973, Cappamore, County Limerick) is an Irish rugby union footballer. He plays for Munster. Having spent his underage career playing with the local Bruff GAA club, he was 23 when he played his first rugby game. It was his size (6'4" and 19 stones) which enabled him to overcome his late start to the sport.

He first played as a wing forward in a Munster Junior League match against Newcastle West R.F.C. At the start of his career, he was affectionately referred to as the calf, before then being known as the bullock as his career progressed then finally the Bull as his reputation as a fearsome scrummagger became known world wide.

He was introduced to the game of Rugby Union by friends when he joined the local Rugby Club, Bruff R.F.C. based in County Limerick, he then moved up a grade when he joined Shannon R.F.C. before travelling to Invercargill, New Zealand. In Invercargill, he changed position from Second Row to Prop Forward. On his return he rejoined Shannon R.F.C. and gained his place on the Munster Rugby Squad. He returned to join his original club, Bruff RFC, in early 2004. He continues to keep his place in both the Irish and Munster Squads. Hayes won his first International cap against Scotland in 2000 and has been Ireland's first-choice tighthead prop ever since. He was a member of the British and Irish Lions squad in their tour to New Zealand in 2005.

In 2006, he helped Munster win the Heineken European Cup in Cardiff's Millennium Stadium on 21 May against Biarritz, Earlier that year he had helped Ireland secure the Triple Crown.In 2008, he again helped Munster win the Heineken European Cup in Cardiff's Millennium Stadium on 24 May against Toulouse.

External links

* [http://www.munsterrugby.ie/97_96.php Munster profile]
* [http://www.irishrugby.ie/226_139.php Ireland profile]
* [http://www.itsrugby.co.uk/joueur_522.html Profile on itsrugby.co.uk]