WJC Profile: Connor Hayes - Scholarship beckons for Melbourne teen

Melbourne’s Connor Hayes lives, eats and breathes squash, which is exactly what he’s looking forward to when he links with Australia’s Commonwealth Games gold medallist, Donna Lobban, in Scotland later this year.

Connor, 18, has accepted a scholarship with Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh where he will be coached by Lobban, a four-time Commonwealth Games representative and 2018 gold medallist.

But before he relocates to Scotland in September, Connor is focused on representing Australia in his hometown of Melbourne at the 2023 WSF World Junior Championships from 18 to 29 July.

Connor works and trains at Squash Melbourne and is also associated with the squash club located at Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club. 

The 18-year-old spends almost half his life in squash centres. He trains three times a day, six days a week, as well as working part-time cleaning courts and managing reception. He simply can’t get enough.

“Squash is pretty much my life at the moment,” Conor says. “It never gets old or boring to me”.

Which is why he and his family didn’t baulk when Lobban invited him to tour the Heriot-Watt University squash facilities in Edinburgh.

“When I went over to the British Juniors in December and January, she was one of the coaches at the tournament and so she talked to me about it,” Connor says. 

“I’m not 100 per cent what she saw in me, but I’d assume it was consistently putting effort in and training hard.

“So we spent a week there, visiting the campus, having a few sessions with the coach, and meeting a few of the players, it was really good.”

Lobban has been appointed to revamp the Squash Scholarship Program at the University, which also houses Scotland’s Sports Performance Centre. The site is home to Scottish squash, rugby and football.

Students have access to strength and conditioning, physiotherapy, psychology, gym, hydrotherapy and athlete learning support. Connor, who will study sport science as part of the four-year scholarship, has been receiving similar support in Melbourne from the Victorian Institute of Sport.

“It’s been really helpful,” says of the VIS support. “I do two strength and conditioning sessions a week, as well physio, nutrition, psychology. You get access to a lot of knowledgeable people who are the top of their fields.”

Connor says he’s excited to make his World Junior Championships debut for Australia, especially so close to home.

“The courts are only 20 minutes from my house so I can train there beforehand and get used to the courts and have a good preparation leading into the tournament.”

“This is my first time playing the World Champs, I’d like to progress through the first two rounds.

“Eventually, I want to make a living from squash and do it as a job for as long as possible. Playing for Australia in the Commonwealth Games, that’s definitely one of my top goals.”

Connor is taking part in this week's Bendigo International where he features in a talented field including Dutch reigning World Junior Champion, Rowan Damming. Other WJC teammates competing in the tournament are Erin Classen, Amelie Guziak and Shona Coxedge.

2023 WSF World Junior Championships
18-29 July | Melbourne Sports Centres VIC
Australian Squad
Men: Harvey Allan (VIC), Dylan Classen (WA), Oscar Curtis (WA), Connor Hayes (VIC), Ken Lamb (NSW), Thomas Scott (NSW)
Women: Erin Classen* (WA), Shona Coxedge (QLD), Amelie Guziak* (VIC), Madison Lyon* (QLD), Courtney Scholtz (VIC), Hannah Slyth* (WA)
* denotes competing in women’s team event
Coaches: Cassie Thomas, Stewart Boswell, Jenny Duncalf