Born in Crumlin on the 1st of March, 1934, Dai was educated at Crumlin High Level School and Newbridge Grammar School, playing twice for Wales under-15s in 1949 and then six times for the Wales Senior Schools in 1951-52.
He played for Loughborough College, Leicestershire County, Crumlin and Newbridge, before joining Cardiff in the summer of 1957 and he was to spend almost forty years as player and committeeman. He made 325 appearances for the 1st XV and scored 50 tries from 1957-58 until his retirement at the en of the 1966-67 season.
Hayward was in the 1957 Cardiff win over Australia and in the defeat to South Africa in 1960, becoming club skipper in 1962, with his Wales debut finally being made two months short of his 29th birthday – against England at Cardiff in 1963. He then led his club to a 6-5 defeat by the All Blacks and also played in the 6-0
In 1964 he played in the wins over Scotland and Ireland and a draw against France, before joining in the first-ever Wales tour abroad, visiting South Africa and playing in the test at Durban. That was his sixth and final cap.
He coached the East Wales side in 1967 that drew 3-3 with New Zealand and became club chairman of Cardiff in 1985-86.
David John (Dai) Hayward died in Bridgend at the age of 69.
