Tommy Hayes (rugby union, born 1973)

Tommy Hayes (born 13 December 1973 in Tokoroa, New Zealand) is a Cook Island international rugby union player. He plays as a fly-half.

Tommy Hayes
Birth nameThomas Wayne Hayes
Date of birth (1973-12-13) 13 December 1973 (age 50)
Place of birthTokoroa, New Zealand
Height6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight200 lb (91 kg)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Fly-half
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
Waikato Rangers[1] ()
1997-2003 Glasgow Hawks ()
2006-2007 Moseley RFC ()
2007 Gran Parma ()
2007-2008 Moseley RFC ()
2009-2010 Coventry RFC ()
2010-2012 Malvern RFC ()
2012- Pershore RFC ()
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1997-2003 Glasgow 115 (1165)
2003-05 Worcester 15 (75)
2005-06 Bristol 6 (19)
Provincial / State sides
Years Team Apps (Points)
1997 Waikato[2] ()
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
- Cook Islands
Coaching career
Years Team
2009-10 Coventry RFC (Backs Coach)
2012–present Pershore RFC

Rugby Union career

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Amateur career

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Hayes started off with amateur club Waikato Rangers in New Zealand.

As part of the Glasgow Warriors contract Hayes was allowed to play for the amateur side Glasgow Hawks when not on Warriors duty.

The former Cook Islands international joined amateur side Moseley RFC for the second half of the 2006/07 season. He returned to Moseley for the latter part of the 2007/08 season after a spell at Gran Parma in Italy.

He played with Coventry RFC (2009/2010),[3][4] and Malvern RFC (2010/2012).[5] Hayes now plays at Pershore RFC. Hayes cited that his greatest achievement and proudest moment in his rugby career was winning the North Midlands Vase in 2023.[6]

Provincial and professional career

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Hayes quickly progressed from amateur to playing for Waikato Province.

The professional Glasgow side signed Hayes in 1997.

He went on to play 121 times for the professional Glasgow side [7] and was the first player to reach 1,000 points for Glasgow Warriors[8] and was described by the Welsh Rugby Union as the equal of any goal-kicker in Europe.[8] The 121 caps total includes friendly matches; for competitive matches his total is 115 caps amassing 1165 points.

From Glasgow, Hayes moved to Worcester Warriors in 2003, (where he was said to have "masterminded Worcester's rise out of Division 1")[9] then moved to Bristol in 2005,[9] but was released by them in November 2006.[10]

International career

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Part of a sizeable Cook Islands population in New Zealand, Hayes qualified for Cook Islands representation through his mother.[8] He was capped twice by Cook Islands coming to the attention of Glasgow Rugby, now Glasgow Warriors.

The caps Hayes had earned for Cook Islands were to cause him later consternation as Hayes was eager to represent Scotland through residency.[11] Despite unable to play for Scotland, Hayes considers himself an honorary Scot after spending six seasons with Glasgow.[12]

Coaching career

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Hayes spent a season as backs coach (and a player) with Coventry RFC (2009/2010),[3][4] Tommy now coaches at Pershore RFC.[6]

References

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  1. ^ "Previous Team Lists". rollermillsrugby.co.nz.
  2. ^ "Hayes offered extension to his contract to stay on Glasgow are keen to keep their prize asset". Herald Scotland.
  3. ^ a b coventrytelegraph Administrator (26 January 2009). "Jones: We are lucky to have Tommy". Coventry Telegraph.
  4. ^ a b "Unofficial Coventry Rugby - Tommy Hayes has gone". Sportnetwork.net.
  5. ^ "Tommy Hayes signs for Malvern". everythingrugby.com.
  6. ^ a b "Information - PERSHORE RFC". pitchero.com.
  7. ^ "MacFadyen reaches 100 for Glasgow". ESPN scrum.
  8. ^ a b c "Moseley: Top rugby in Birmingham". moseleyrugby.co.uk.
  9. ^ a b "Glasgow Warriors - Tommy Hayes to join Bristol". glasgowwarriors.com.
  10. ^ "Bristol Rugby • View topic - Tommy Hayes Released!". bristolrugby.co.uk.
  11. ^ "Rugby Union: Hayes orchestrates Glasgow triumph". The Independent.
  12. ^ "Glasgow Warriors - Tommy is still an honorary Scot". glasgowwarriors.com.
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