Player

Playing Career
Clubs: Swansea, Wigan.
Honours: Wales (5 caps) 1908-1909


Profile
Born c1887, George Hayward was a powerful forward who made his Swansea debut in October 1905and 1st XV debut on 4th November 1905, at St Helen's against Newport, with the club riding high on the back on the "Invincible" season of 1904-05. At 15st 2lb Hayward was the heaviest forward in Wales during his career.
His size and aggressive game soon saw him picked for Wales where he made his international debut at his home ground of St Helen's as Wales narrowly defeated Scotland, 6 - 5 on 1st February 1908. It was a great year for the Swansea forward who went on to claim a place in the next match in Cardiff against France on 2nd November 1908. This was the first international between Wales and France and the home team romped home 36 - 4 against the newcomers. George Hayward held his place in the Triple Crown winning side against Ireland in Belfast (5 - 11) on 14th March 1908.
Hayward was one of four Swansea players to have played the first touring Australian side in 1908 three times. Along with Harry Toft, Dicky Owen and Phil Hopkins, he played for Glamorgan against the tourists at Pontypridd (lost 3 - 16) on 7th October 1908. He was selected again as Wales beat Australia in Cardiff on 1st December and was again present as Swansea claimed their first big scalp at St Helen's on boxing Day 1908 by beating Australia (6 - 0).
George Hayward gained his last Welsh cap in Cardiff on 16th January 1909 as Wales beat England (8 -0) but he went on to play in Swansea's great victory over the second Springboks on Boxing Day 1912 (3 - 0). With 'northern poachers' constantly looking in South Wales for international class players, it was only a matter of time before a club from the breakaway Northern League would make an irresistible offer. George Hayward, who was a butcher by trade was signed to Wigan in December 1913 for the unheard of signing on fee of £155 which was the highest ever paid for a Welsh forward at the time. Such amounts were more than a working class Union player were ever likely to see in their life. It was a blow to the Swansea club who'd lost half backs 'Dodger' Owen and Sid Jerram also to Wigan, at the start of the 1912-13 season. George duly 'went north' and played his first match for Wigan against Runcorn on 27th December 1913.
George Hayward returned to Swansea after his playing days and died there on 14th February 1948.