NOTE down the name Ricky Hayes ... more will be heard of this rugby player in the future.
Despite playing in his second summer of sevens and first at premier level Hayes, 19, was one of the stars of Napier Old Boys Marist's senior men's title win at his club's inaugural Invitational Sevens tournament at Park Island on Saturday. He scored two tries as the hosts walloped Taranaki's Southern Sharks 43-5 in the final and four during the team's three games earlier in the day which were also won.
"I don't even know what the positions are in sevens. I wanted to use today to push my case for a permanent berth in the club's 15-a-side premier team next year," Hayes said.
A Hawke's Bay under-19 loosie or second five-eighth this year, Hayes, also played as a loosie for his club's colts team which reached their competition final in August.
NOBM premier team's head coach Craig Gowler agreed Hayes, who works as an apprentice boat builder for Dickey Boats in Napier, was destined for higher honours in both versions of the code.