Former Munster and Ireland Rugby Player
John Hayes a retired Irish rugby union player who played in the Pro12 and Heineken cup for Munster. John didn’t start playing rugby until he was 18; prior to this he played with the local Cappamore GAA hurling club.
He made his first appearance for Munster in 1998 and went on to play for the Irish side until 2011 and was a firm favourite with the fans, who called him ‘the bull’. During his time with Munster, John Hayes also became the first person to play 100 Heineken Champions Cup games.
In 2010, he became the first Irish rugby player to earn 100 caps. During his international career, he was also selected for two British and Irish Lions tours, where he earned two caps.
For Ireland, he won the Grand Slam in the Six Nations in 2009 and he also claimed the Triple Crown four times (2004, 2006, 2007 and 2009).
Since retirement, John Hayes has retained a low profile. He works on his farm and coaches in Bruff, where his son and two daughters play.
