Painite is the World’s rarest gem. William Shakespeare’s is the World’s rarest autograph and Amazing Spiderman No.1 is the World’s rarest comic book.These rare objects pale into insignificance when you consider how rare a John Hayes interview is. The affectionately know ‘Bull’ is a shy giant. Some seasoned hacks have never had the opportunity to question the giant Cappamore farmer. Hayes prefers to do his talking on the pitch.
The Bruff clubman certainly did that last weekend against Leinster in the Magners League final. The only thing more amazing than his 80 minute performance in the scrum and around the field was the fact the old war horse, 38 years young this November, agreed to speak to the media afterwards.
Asked by this journalist for ‘a few words’ more in jest and hope than anything else, the big man agreed. Throwing my brain into overdrive as it tried to find the list of questions I have always wanted to ask the 100 plus times capped Irish number three.
The first question was, how did he feel after 80 minutes of rugby. A feat rarely achieved by props in the modern era.
“I’ve played 80 minutes all my career, so it’s nothing new to me, like. I feel fine now, but it’s like anything, when you get a win things don’t hurt. But it’s the end of the season and I’m looking forward to a break now”.
Was this the last time we would have seen Hayes in Munster red? Was this the reason for the interview? “I don’t know if it’s the end. That’s the honest answer. I’ll just wait and see how it goes”.
At this stage fellow Munster players and the Munster media manager begin to film the interview as the rarity of the occasion strikes them dumb. “Ah go away, I’m only getting warmed up”, adds Hayes as he banished all efforts by his team mates who mockingly distracted him from this historic occasion.
Speaking about the game itself, Hayes felt that it was a tough encounter for both sides. Munster had been under pressure to win and Leinster were coming down from the high of the week before.
“It was a great match, a great way to finish the season, anyway. We’ve been where Leinster have been before and if you play big matches every week, it does take it’s toll. They had a huge game last week and there was travel involved, whereas we had two weeks to prepare. It was just a matter of getting the two weeks right, of not going off the boil and keeping that balance right. Ah, it’s just good to get the win. It’s been a long season, obviously it’s been disappointing in Europe. We’ve been good in the Magners {League}, but finishing the league stages on top doesn’t get you anything, so it was important to get the knockout wins.”
The thoughts of all the Irish players on show last weekend, after the final whistle blew, were turned to New Zealand and the World Cup. The players have four weeks off, before camp starts for the Summer series. Hayes however has other fish to fry. Or to be specific, cows to milk and a farm to run. When asked what he would be doing with his time off, Hayes straightened his back, stuck out his chest and proudly informed the assemble, in awe.
“I’ll go straight home because it’s a busy time of the year and I have to get jobs done. Straight home and I’ll get to do them, if the weather holds anyway. It would want to clear up a small bit!”
The magic of the night began as Munster and Leinster fans witnessed a spectacle of rugby which made every Irish rugby fan proud. The night ended with a special prize for those involved in the media. An audience with John Hayes is the pinnacle of the rugby hacks career. In the World of protein shakes and product placements, the chance to speak to a true great of the game does not come too easy.
People know Hayes is something special. Take his passionate national anthem tears as an example. Tears which were recognised during a recent state occasion. Irish men and women will long remember RTE journalist Olivia O’Leary’s speech during the Queen’s visit which referenced the Limerick farmer’s passion for his country.
The first rule of journalism, they say, is not to let yourself be star struck. I dare any man, woman or child not to be left dumb founded by how shy and gentle a man the size and stature of John Hayes can be. They call him the ‘Bull’ but he is also a legend.
