‘Full circle’ moment for Hayes with Chester gig
RHYS Hayes has hung up his boots and entered the coaching world aiming to take “sleeping giant” Chester back to National One. The 34-year-old made 24 appearances at full-back for Caldy last season, scoring twice, as the Merseysiders finished 10th in the Championship.
Hayes was looking forward to another season in the second tier, but has been enticed by the opportunity to lead his boyhood club.
He told The Rugby Paper: “Last season was one of the best I’ve had. I was going to do one more, but I saw the vacancy here and through one of my friends, who is a sponsor at Chester, I was put forward for the role.
“We went for a pint and discussed what they wanted in a coach. I spoke to my family and it seemed a no-brainer.
“It was great to finish on a high in my playing career, I never wanted to cling on and go backwards. It’s a great opportunity to go to a club I know well from my seven seasons here. It’s fitting to go full circle and give back to where I started my career.
“Their vision tied into my philosophy of how I like the game being played and the support will allow me to do it the way I want to. I’ve played with Guy Ford and Mike Craven in the coaching team back in the day, so we’ve got mutual respect.”
Chester are excited to return to National Two North after a season of long journeys in the West, while newly-promoted Macclesfield will have the burden of travelling up and down the south west.
“I feel for Macclesfield,” said Hayes. “Just the cost alone in terms of what the club are spending on transport. Unexpectedly you’ve got to find £20,000 to cover extra transport fees. Now they’re expecting National Two players to drive down to Camborne and give up their weekends. It’s a different commitment when you’re a National 1/Championship player and the expectation to be all over the country. Every week when you’re on a bus for at least three hours or spending the night somewhere is a massive adjustment for the club.”
Moving back into the North means Chester can reignite their rivalries and boost their attendances, while also hoping to mount a promotion push after finishing 11th in the West last season.
Hayes added: “Going back into Two North is great for the club, certainly in terms of getting more fans in the gates – last year we only had our fans at home games, away fans weren’t travelling up for it. It’ll be good to get a full stand, playing the same rivals we’ve played the past eight years.
“I’ve always viewed Chester as a sleeping giant in terms of its location, facilities and the players coming through the system. It’s about doing all we can to retain boys, utilise our location to improve our player pool. I aspire for us to be a National One club. This year the goal is top three, but I want to win every match.”
