John Hayes: Irish Rugby’s Centurion

John Hayes will join a select band of globally renowned players when he becomes Ireland’s first centurion, taking to the Twickenham pitch for Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations clash with England.

He is the 12th player to do so, following in the footsteps of Australian scrum half George Gregan, England prop Jason Leonard and French lock Fabien Pelous, among others.

His Ireland record to date reads: 99 matches, 95 starts, 63 wins, 34 defeats, 2 draws and 2 tries.

It is fitting that Hayes will achieve the 100-cap milestone in a Championship that he has thrived in ever since his debut against Scotland at Lansdowne Road in February 2000.

The ‘Bull’ started his career at Bruff RFC and is still a proud member of the club.

This picture of the Ireland squad before the game against Italy shows that while he may be older and somewhat bigger in size, he still ‘looks’ the same way in a team line-up.

Yes that is him looking to one side in the Bruff photo as well!

Bruff PRO Richard Leonard spoke this week on behalf of the club.

“It’s a long, long time since that fateful day when he played for the very first time as wing forward for Bruff against Newcastle West in a nil-all draw, and how things have changed for both Bruff RFC and for John since,” he said.

“Having gathered two Heineken Cup medals, four Triple Crowns and a Grand Slam along the way – as well as British & Irish Lions honours – we are very proud of the achievements of our most famous son.

“As John has matured as a rugby player in the intervening years, we also have matured as a club and in an attempt to emulate his brilliant achievements on the pitch we are proud of the fact that we are able to compete against the best at the highest levels in the AIB League.

“Thank you John for your many years of service to the game of rugby, to your club, your province and to your country.”

The Cappamore farmer holds the record for most appearances in the RBS 6 Nations – 51 consecutive run-outs in green – and his durability, modesty and sheer work rate has seen him take on cult status with players and supporters alike.

His unstinting service in the Ireland pack is testament to his ability to maintain a high level of fitness and shows just how vital the much-loved tighthead is to the Irish cause.

Through the ups and downs over the past ten years – the ups including the aforementioned Grand Slam and four Triple Crowns – Hayes has been a cornerstone of Irish sides, something readily acknowledged by his coaches, team-mates and opposition.

An unsung hero who goes quietly about his business, as will be the case this weekend. A gentle, green giant and one Irish rugby is blessed to have fighting its corner.

Any sign of that man-of-the-match award, eh?

JOHN HAYES – 99-MATCH RECORD AS IRELAND’S MOST-CAPPED PLAYER: 

February 19, 2000 – RBS 6 Nations – Ireland 44 Scotland 22, Lansdowne Road
March 4, 2000 – RBS 6 Nations – Ireland 60 Italy 13, Lansdowne Road
March 19, 2000 – RBS 6 Nations – France 25 Ireland 27, Stade de France
April 1, 2000 – RBS 6 Nations – Ireland 19 Wales 23, Lansdowne Road
June 3, 2000 – Summer Tour – Argentina 34 Ireland 23, Ferrocaril Oeste Stadium
June 17, 2000 – Summer Tour – Canada 27 Ireland 27, Fletcher’s Field
November 11, 2000 – Autumn Series – Ireland 78 Japan 9, Lansdowne Road
November 19, 2000 – Autumn Series – Ireland 18 South Africa 28, Lansdowne Road
February 3, 2001 – RBS 6 Nations – Italy 22 Ireland 41, Stadio Flaminio
February 17, 2001 – RBS 6 Nations – Ireland 22 France 15, Lansdowne Road
June 2, 2001 – Summer Tour – Romania 3 Ireland 37, Dinamo Stadion
September 22, 2001 – RBS 6 Nations – Scotland 32 Ireland 10, Murrayfield
October 13, 2001 – RBS 6 Nations – Wales 6 Ireland 36, Millennium Stadium
October 20, 2001 – RBS 6 Nations – Ireland 20 England 14, Lansdowne Road
November 11, 2001 – Autumn Series – Ireland 35 Samoa 8, Lansdowne Road
November 17, 2001 – Autumn Series – Ireland 29 New Zealand 40, Lansdowne Road
February 3, 2002 – RBS 6 Nations – Ireland 54 Wales 10, Lansdowne Road
February 16, 2002 – RBS 6 Nations – England 45 Ireland 11, Twickenham
March 2, 2002 – RBS 6 Nations – Ireland 43 Scotland 22, Lansdowne Road
March 23, 2002 – RBS 6 Nations – Ireland 32 Italy 17, Lansdowne Road
April 6, 2002 – RBS 6 Nations – France 44 Ireland 5, Stade de France
June 15, 2002 – Summer Tour – New Zealand 15 Ireland 6, Carisbrook
June 22, 2002 – Summer Tour – New Zealand 40 Ireland 8, Eden Park
September 7, 2002 – Rugby World Cup Warm-Up – Ireland 39 Romania 8, Thomond Park (1st try)
September 21, 2002 – Rugby World Cup Qualifier Pool A – Russia 3 Ireland 35, Krasnoyarsk
September 28, 2002 – Rugby World Cup Qualifier Pool A – Ireland 63 Georgia 14, Lansdowne Road
November 9, 2002 – Autumn Series – Ireland 18 Australia 9, Lansdowne Road
November 17, 2002 – Autumn Series – Ireland 64 Fiji 17, Lansdowne Road
November 23, 2002 – Autumn Series – Ireland 16 Argentina 7, Lansdowne Road
February 16, 2003 – RBS 6 Nations – Scotland 6 Ireland 36, Murrayfield
February 22, 2003 – RBS 6 Nations – Italy 13 Ireland 37, Stadio Flaminio
March 8, 2003 – RBS 6 Nations – Ireland 15 France 12, Lansdowne Road
March 22, 2003 – RBS 6 Nations – Wales 24 Ireland 25, Millennium Stadium
March 30, 2003 – RBS 6 Nations – Ireland 6 England 42, Lansdowne Road
October 11, 2003 – Rugby World Cup Pool A – Ireland 45 Romania 17, Central Coast Stadium
October 19, 2003 – Rugby World Cup Pool A – Ireland 64 Namibia 7, Sydney Football Stadium
October 26, 2003 – Rugby World Cup Pool A – Argentina 15 Ireland 16, Adelaide Oval
November 1, 2003 – Rugby World Cup Pool A – Australia 17 Ireland 16, Docklands Stadium
November 9, 2003 – Rugby World Cup Quarter-Final – France 43 Ireland 21, Docklands Stadium
February 14, 2004 – RBS 6 Nations – France 35 Ireland 17, Stade de France
February 22, 2004 – RBS 6 Nations – Ireland 36 Wales 15, Lansdowne Road
March 6, 2004 – RBS 6 Nations – England 13 Ireland 19, Twickenham
March 20, 2004 – RBS 6 Nations – Ireland 19 Italy 3, Lansdowne Road
March 27, 2004 – RBS 6 Nations – Ireland 37 Scotland 16, Lansdowne Road
June 12, 2004 – Summer Tour – South Africa 31 Ireland 17, Free State Stadium
June 19, 2004 – Summer Tour – South Africa 26 Ireland 17, Newlands Stadium
November 13, 2004 – Autumn Series – Ireland 17 South Africa 12, Lansdowne Road
November 20, 2004 – Autumn Series – Ireland 55 USA 6, Lansdowne Road
November 27, 2004 – Autumn Series – Ireland 21 Argentina 19, Lansdowne Road
February 6, 2005 – RBS 6 Nations – Italy 17 Ireland 28, Stadio Flaminio
February 12, 2005 – RBS 6 Nations – Scotland 13 Ireland 40, Murrayfield (2nd try)
February 27, 2005 – RBS 6 Nations – Ireland 19 England 13, Lansdowne Road
March 12, 2005 – RBS 6 Nations – Ireland 19 France 26, Lansdowne Road
March 19, 2005 – RBS 6 Nations – Wales 32 Ireland 20, Millennium Stadium
November 12, 2005 – Autumn Series – Ireland 7 New Zealand 45, Lansdowne Road
November 19, 2005 – Autumn Series – Ireland 14 Australia 30, Lansdowne Road
November 26, 2005 – Autumn Series – Ireland 43 Romania 12, Lansdowne Road
February 4, 2006 – RBS 6 Nations – Ireland 26 Italy 16, Lansdowne Road
February 11, 2006 – RBS 6 Nations – France 43 Ireland 31, Stade de France
February 26, 2006 – RBS 6 Nations – Ireland 31 Wales 5, Lansdowne Road
March 11, 2006 – RBS 6 Nations – Ireland 15 Scotland 9, Lansdowne Road
March 18, 2006 – RBS 6 Nations – England 24 Ireland 28, Twickenham
June 10, 2006 – Summer Tour – New Zealand 34 Ireland 23, Waikato Stadium
June 17, 2006 – Summer Tour – New Zealand 27 Ireland 17, Eden Park
June 24, 2006 – Summer Tour – Australia 37 Ireland 15, Subiaco Oval
November 11, 2006 – Autumn Series – Ireland 32 South Africa 15, Lansdowne Road
November 19, 2006 – Autumn Series – Ireland 21 Australia 6, Lansdowne Road
November 26, 2006 – Autumn Series – Ireland 61 Pacific Islanders 17, Lansdowne Road
February 4, 2007 – RBS 6 Nations – Wales 9 Ireland 19, Millennium Stadium
February 11, 2007 – RBS 6 Nations – Ireland 17 France 20, Croke Park
February 24, 2007 – RBS 6 Nations – Ireland 43 England 13, Croke Park
March 10, 2007 – RBS 6 Nations – Scotland 18 Ireland 19, Murrayfield
March 17, 2007 – RBS 6 Nations – Italy 24 Ireland 51, Stadio Flaminio
August 11, 2007 – Rugby World Cup Warm-Up – Scotland 31 Ireland 21, Murrayfield
August 24, 2007 – Rugby World Cup Warm-Up – Ireland 23 Italy 20, Ravenhill
September 9, 2007 – Rugby World Cup Pool D – Ireland 32 Namibia 17, Stade Chaban-Delmas
September 15, 2007 – Rugby World Cup Pool D – Georgia 10 Ireland 14, Stade Chaban-Delmas
September 21, 2007 – Rugby World Cup Pool D – France 25 Ireland 3, Stade de France
September 30, 2007 – Rugby World Cup Pool D – Argentina 30 Ireland 15, Parc de Princes
February 2, 2008 – RBS 6 Nations – Ireland 16 Italy 11, Croke Park
February 9, 2008 – RBS 6 Nations – France 26 Ireland 21, Stade de France
February 23, 2008 – RBS 6 Nations – Ireland 34 Scotland 13, Croke Park
March 8, 2008 – RBS 6 Nations – Ireland 12 Wales 16, Croke Park
March 15, 2008 – RBS 6 Nations – England 33 Ireland 10, Twickenham
June 7, 2008 – Summer Tour – New Zealand 21 Ireland 11, Westpac Stadium
June 14, 2008 – Summer Tour – Australia 18 Ireland 12, Docklands Stadium
November 8, 2008 – Autumn Series – Ireland 55 Canada 0, Thomond Park
November 15, 2008 – Autumn Series – Ireland 3 New Zealand 22, Croke Park
November 22, 2008 – Autumn Series – Ireland 17 Argentina 3, Croke Park
February 7, 2009 – RBS 6 Nations – Ireland 30 France 21, Croke Park
February 15, 2009 – RBS 6 Nations – Italy 9 Ireland 38, Stadio Flaminio
February 28, 2009 – RBS 6 Nations – Ireland 14 England 13, Croke Park
March 14, 2009 – RBS 6 Nations – Scotland 15 Ireland 22, Murrayfield
March 21, 2009 – RBS 6 Nations – Wales 15 Ireland 17, Millennium Stadium
November 15, 2009 – Autumn Series – Ireland 20 Australia 20, Croke Park
November 21, 2009 – Autumn Series – Ireland 41 Fiji 6, The RDS
November 28, 2009 – Autumn Series – Ireland 15 South Africa 10, Croke Park
February 6, 2010 – RBS 6 Nations – Ireland 29 Italy 11, Croke Park
February 13, 2010 – RBS 6 Nations – France 33 Ireland 10, Stade de France