John Hayes (rugby player)

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For other persons named John Hayes, see John Hayes (disambiguation).

John James "Bull" Hayes (born November 2, 1973) in Cappamore, County Limerick, is an Irish rugby union footballer. He plays for Munster. He was 18 when he played his first game and 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 was in the form of his life and helped Munster win the Heineken European Cup in Cardiff's Millennium Stadium on May 21st against Biarritz, where he was a Colossus, making some thundering tackles - particularly on Biarritz and French centre Damian Traille. Earlier that year he had helped Ireland secure the Triple Crown. He is approaching 33 years of age but is still irreplaceable on both the Munster and Irish sides.

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