John Hayes

John James Hayes (born 2 November 1973) is a retired Irish rugby union player who played in the Pro12 and Heineken Cup for Munster. He didn't start playing rugby until he was 18; prior to this he played with the local Cappamore GAA hurling club. It was his size (6 ft 4 in, 19 stone) that enabled him to overcome his late start to the sport. He continues to "follow GAA in Limerick very much and especially hurling". Early rugby Hayes was introduced to the game of rugby union by friends when he joined local rugby club Bruff in County Limerick. He then moved up a grade when he joined Shannon before travelling to Invercargill, New Zealand, where he changed position from lock to prop because he had "bulked up". On his return to Ireland, he rejoined Shannon and gained a place on the Munster squad. He later rejoined his original club Bruff when they joined the AIL as a senior club in 2004. In September 2012, he released his autobiography The Bull: My Story, which details his sporting life. On 5 October 2012, he appeared as a guest on the Late Late Show alongside his wife to talk about his career. Munster 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.