Don Hayward

Don Hayward
	Hayward in New Zealand in 1950
Birth name	Donald James Hayward
Date of birth	30 June 1925
Place of birth	Pontypool, Wales
Date of death	16 February 1999 (aged 73)
Place of death	Lower Hutt, New Zealand
Occupation(s)	railwayman, fireman
Rugby union career
Position(s)
Position(s)	Lock, Prop
Amateur team(s)
Years	Team
	Newbridge RFC
International career
Years	Team
1949-1952	Wales
1950	British Lions
	Rugby league career
Playing information
Position	Prop
Club

Donald James Hayward (30 June 1925 – 16 February 1999) was a Welsh international prop who played club rugby for Newbridge and Wigan RLFC. He won 15 caps for Wales, and was selected to play in the British Lions on the 1950 tour of Australia and New Zealand. Hayward is considered to be one of the finest forwards to represent Wales in the early post-war period.^[2] He was an excellent lineout specialist and was an aggressive mauler in the loose. Hayward was also an extremely strong tackler and played with total conviction.

Rugby career

Born in 1925 in Pontypool and played for 'second class' team Newbridge, who before 1939 would rarely be selected for Welsh trials, but this changed after World War II. With an improved list of opponents, and an impressive roster of players, Newbridge gained trials for several of its players including Hayward and Ray Cale who were both selected. Hayward was first selected for Wales in 1949 after Rees Stephens pulled out of the game against England. Although Stephens regained his place, Hayward was back in the 1950 season and held his place throughout the Five Nations Championships in 1950 through to 1953.

In 1951, Hayward faced the touring South Africans on two occasions, as part of the Welsh pack, and also as part of a joint Newbridge / Pontypool side. Although Newbridge were beaten by the Springboks, it was an historic game and Hayward proved a formidable opponent.

Hayward would later emigrate to New Zealand, but returned to Britain to play rugby league.

International matches played

Wales^[3]

England 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952
France 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952
Ireland 1950, 1951, 1952
Scotland 1950, 1951, 1952
South Africa 1951

British Lions

During the 1950 British Lions tour Hayward was over-selected in the early games, playing in the first three tests against New Zealand, but looked tired in the third test and was far below his normal form. In total he played 18 matches on the tour.^[2]

New Zealand 1950, 1950, 1950

References

^ ^a ^b Don Hayward. espn.co.uk
^ ^a ^b Thomas, Wayne (1979). A Century of Welsh Rugby Players. Ansells Ltd. p. 118.
^ Smith, David; Williams, Gareth (1980). Fields of Praise: The Official History of The Welsh Rugby Union. Cardiff: University of Wales Press. p. 466. ISBN 0-7083-0766-3.