The 208 cm (6 ft 10in) tall Bayfield made his England debut in 1991, and although he was omitted from the 1991 World Cup squad, he was a part of the 1992 Five Nations Grand Slam winning side.

Since retirement, Bayfield has worked as a journalist, an after-dinner speaker, and has appeared in all of the Harry Potter films playing the half-giant Hagrid, as Robbie Coltrane's body and stunt double (he also appeared in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets as a young Rubeus Hagrid).

In his broadcasting career, Bayfield has presented the NFL and World's Strongest Man coverage on UK Channel Five and worked as a rugby correspondent on BBC Radio 5 Live.

Bayfield (along with his ITV co-presenter Craig Doyle) moved to the new channel and he now works as a presenter, pundit and pitchside reporter.

Bayfield is an Honorary President of the Wooden Spoon Society, the rugby charity that supports disadvantaged children and young people.