Munster job 'stressful' but still enjoyable for Hayes

Munster head Coach Fiona Hayes and assistant coach Niamh Briggs. Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Bryan Keane

Fiona is two games into her time as head coach of the Munster women’s team. They have two wins from two games in the Interprovincial Series. Still, “stressful, very stressful” said Hayes about the role.

“As a head coach you're dealing with bigger squads,” she explained. 

“Everyone believes they should be starting. You've such a great range of talent there but also as you're dealing with a lot of other coaches as well. It's just a bigger environment in general.

“It's definitely a step up I will say. I have a full time job and I don't think I've slept in maybe eight weeks with the stress of it but once you get to game day it's just absolutely (brilliant). The step up was a bit bigger than I thought, as in time wise it is so time consuming but very very enjoyable."

This is a relatively green Munster squad. There were six new caps in the victory over Ulster. 

“I'm a coach who wears her heart on her sleeve and I played the exact same way so I understand the players that are up there and they're giving everything and it can be quite (tough)," said Hayes.

"I suppose that's my job, that's my role I understand that but it can be I suppose it can be upsetting sometimes when you have to when you've seen someone give everything and they mightn't even make a squad.” 

Munster had a bonus point win against Ulster in the opening round and then beat Leinster last weekend. The game against Leinster was a revenge mission. Munster were beaten by their rivals in last year’s final as they aimed to make it three consecutive title wins.

“We had questioned that kind of work rate and physicality a little bit (after the Ulster game), so we pushed them a bit extra in training again before Leinster and we were delighted with how it paid off.

“Last weekend was huge for us. Both times we played Leinster last year, we lost. It was at home (in Virgin Media Park), so that was something we wanted to fix because we get such a good crowd in there.” 

Hayes did allow herself some stress relief after the win against Leinster, attending Electric Picnic. "I was dying to see Kylie and Wolfe Tones so it was a great weekend. I think the energy was taken out of me on Saturday though. I was in bed in the tent by half eleven."

Munster face Connacht in Galway on Saturday (kick off 3:30pm) aiming to continue their perfect run. It is the last round robin game before finals day on August 31. Two of Connacht’s backs - Éabha Nic Dhonnacha and Laoise McGonagle – are UL Bohemians players where Hayes is also the head coach. She led them to the AIL title earlier this year.

“Connacht at home are a force to be reckoned,” said Hayes.

“I've watched Connacht in the last few years and they're just getting better and better and even down in UL Bohs, we've been lucky to have maybe four or five Connacht players play with us in the AIL. The standard is high quality."