Ireland
Hayes won his first International cap against Scotland in 2000 and was Ireland's first-choice tighthead prop from then until the beginning of the 2010–11 season when he was replaced by Leinster's inform Mike Ross. He was a member of the British and Irish Lions squad in their tour to New Zealand in 2005 and played in the warm up test match vs Argentina.
Hayes became Ireland's most capped player during Ireland's first Grand Slam in 61 years in 2009 with 94 appearances.
He earned his 100th cap for Ireland against England on 27 February 2010. He was the first Irish player to do so. Hayes lead Ireland out onto the pitch before the game to a standing ovation from the Twickenham crowd. Ireland went on to win the game 20–16 with a late try by Tommy Bowe. Hayes did not play against the Barbarians in Ireland's first match of the Summer Tests, and missed the Test against New Zealand through illness. He came on as a replacement against New Zealand Maori but was left out of the squad to play Australia, thereby losing his title of Ireland's most capped player to Brian O'Driscoll.
He was selected in Ireland's training squad for the 2011 Rugby World Cup warm-ups in August, and came off the bench in Ireland's first warm-up against Scotland. This turned out to be his last appearance for Ireland, as Hayes was not selected in Ireland's final 30-man squad for the tournament in New Zealand and he retired in December 2011.
Read more about this topic: John Hayes (rugby Union)
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