Richard Hayward

Richard Edward Hayward (15 February 1954 – 27 August 2026) was an English cricketer who played first-class cricket in England for Hampshire and in New Zealand for Central Districts. Following his retirement from playing, Hayward remained in New Zealand. There in 1998 he was appointed the Nelson Cricket Association's first coaching director, becoming the first full-time professional coaching director appointed by a district association in New Zealand. In 2002, he became Canterbury's coaching director. In he became a match referee for New Zealand Cricket.

Career in England Early life and career Hayward was born in Ickenham on 15 February 1954. After spending five years playing for the Middlesex Second Eleven, during which he was unable to force his way into the Middlesex starting eleven, The following season, he made ten appearances in the Minor Counties Championship. In the same season, Hayward was selected to play for the Minor Counties representative team against the touring Indians at Wellington, with the match marking his debut in first-class cricket. He made his debut in List A one-day cricket in the same season, playing for Minor Counties South in the Benson & Hedges Cup; he also played for Buckinghamshire against Suffolk in the first round of the Gillette Cup.

Move to Hampshire Hayward began playing Second Eleven cricket for Hampshire in 1979, Toward the end of the 1981 season, he made six appearances in the County Championship, He featured for Hampshire in their defeat to Lancashire in the quarter-final of the 1981 NatWest Trophy, in addition to making three further one-day appearances in the John Player League. Hayward was released by Hampshire at the end of the season, alongside John Rice and Michael Bailey.

Following his release by Hampshire, Hayward resumed playing minor counties cricket for Buckinghamshire in the 1983 and 1984 seasons. He made his debut for Somerset in the County Championship against Gloucestershire, with him making nine first-class appearances during the season. Alongside his first-class appearances, Hayward also made eight one-day appearances for Somerset,

Career in New Zealand Playing in New Zealand After his release by Hampshire, Hayward returned to playing minor counties cricket for Buckinghamshire in 1983. His uncle, who lived in Nelson, recommended him to Nelson cricket administrator Jock Sutherland; at the time, the Nelson Cricket Association were looking to for a coach to replace the outgoing Billy Ibadulla. with him making two further appearances in the competition. Alongside these, he also made five one-day appearances in the 1983–84 Shell Cup. Hayward made seven first-class appearances in the 1984–85 Shell Trophy, With Hayward announcing his retirement in February 1986, he was omitted from the Central Districts team for the remainder of the season, missing out on playing against the touring Australians. Hayward made 50 appearances in his first-class career, scoring 1,766 runs at an average of 26.75, with three centuries. In one-day cricket, he made 48 appearances, scoring 989 runs at an average of 31.90.

Post-retirement Following his retirement, Hayward continued to play cricket in England during the New Zealand winter, representing Buckinghamshire in the Minor Counties Championship until 1989 and the MCCA Knockout Trophy until 1987. Throughout the 1980s, he was a member of the Nelson team that dominated the Hawke Cup, with his Hawke Cup career culminating in December 1990. Hayward subsequently bought a shop in Nelson. an appointment he maintained as of . In November 2019 he was made a life member of the Central Districts Cricket Association.

Hayward died in Nelson on 27 August 2026, aged 72.