JOHN HAYES has been an almost constant presence in the Ireland pack since his first cap against Scotland in February 2000.

Educated at Doon CBS, 'The Bull' was a latecomer to the game – he first lined out as a flanker for local club Bruff at the age of 18, but spells with Shannon and Invercargill in New Zealand helped mould him into a prop.

The Limerick native, who has won two Heineken Cups with Munster, became Ireland’s most capped player during the 2009 RBS Six Nations. A Lions tourist in New Zealand in 2005,

Although now entering the twilight of his career, this veritable rock of Irish rugby shows no signs of wilting – after becoming the first first Irish player to make 100 international appearances.