Foley praise as Hayes equals cap record

ANTHONY Foley’s amazing Heineken Cup record is about to be matched as Munster face into a quarter final clash with Ospreys, but the ex-skipper will be first to congratulate John Hayes as the powerful prop forward wins a tournament-equalling 86th cap.

Foley jokingly suggested that Hayes had an easier run to his achievement, saying: “We always tell him we believe he didn’t have much opposition; it was harder for us guys in the back row to get into the side because of such intense competition!”

On a serious note, he described the big prop as: “A genuinely magnificent rugby player, who fully deserves any plaudits that come his way.”