Hayes ‘great loss to Irish rugby’

Tom Hayes is 32 now and, on the law of averages, the chance of following his brother John into the family’s ranks of capped international rugby players is probably beyond him.

Yet Eoin Reddan, who played alongside the Bull’s younger brother during their formative days together in Munster, believes the Exeter Chiefs lock would be more than capable of stepping up to the international stage if given the chance.

Hayes has played a pivotal role in Exeter’s rise from English rugby’s second tier to a point this Saturday where they will make their Heineken Cup debut against Leinster at the RDS.