Hayes’ retirement put on hold

JOHN HAYES’ retirement party has been put on hold after it emerged he may be required to stay on at Munster due to a series of injuries to the province’s front-rowers.

Hayes, pictured, has been on standby for a call-up to New Zealand after agreeing to extend a contract with the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) beyond his June deadline.

He had intended calling a halt to an illustrious career that yielded Heineken Cup, Magners League, Triple Crown and Grand Slam accolades as well as selection for the British and Irish Lions after that.

In the last few weeks, he was made available for Munster to keep him match fit should he berequired to go DownUnder, but is now likely to be given a longer contract.

Worrying injuries to BJ Botha (calf) and Peter Borlase (foot) have left the Munster coach Tony McGahan scrambling for experienced props in advance of the visit to Cardiff tonight.

The problem has been complicated by illness to loose-head Marcus Horan.

Botha, the planned replacement for Hayes, aggravated an injury he sustained in pre-season, while Borlase was already sidelined with that foot injury when Botha pulled up during training yesterday and Hayes — due to be given a weekend off — was drafted in to the squad for the game in Cardiff.