Leon Hayward
{{Short description|Australian-born New Zealand field hockey player}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Use Australian English|date=October 2019}}
{{Infobox field hockey player
| name = Leon Hayward
| image =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1990|4|23}}
| birth_place = Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia
| height = 1.78 m
| position = Goalkeeper
| currentclub = Auckland
| clubnumber =
| years1 = 2012–2017
| clubs1 = NT Stingers
| caps1 = 102
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2019–
| clubs2 = Auckland
| caps2 = 5
| goals2 = 0
| nationalyears1 = 2009
| nationalteam1 = Australia U–21
| nationalcaps1 = 13
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalyears2 = 2014–2015
| nationalteam2 = Australia
| nationalcaps2 = 13
| nationalgoals2 = 0
| nationalyears3 = 2019–
| nationalteam3 = New Zealand
| nationalcaps3 = 49
| nationalgoals3 = 0
| medaltemplates =
{{MedalSport|Men's field hockey}}
{{MedalCountry|{{AUS}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|Junior World Cup}}
{{MedalBronze|2009 Malaysia/Singapore|}}
{{MedalCountry|{{NZL}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|Oceania Cup}}
{{MedalSilver|2023 Whangārei|}}
}}
Leon Hayward (born 23 April 1990){{cite web |url=https://tms.fih.ch/competitions/401/reports/teams |title=Team Details – Australia |publisher=International Hockey Federation |website=tms.fih.ch |accessdate=13 October 2019}} is an Australian-born New Zealand field hockey player, who plays as a goalkeeper.{{cite web |url=http://www.hockey.org.au/News/reid-names-first-squad |title=Reid names first squad |publisher=Hockey Australia |website=hockey.org.au |accessdate=13 October 2019}}
Personal life
Leon Hayward was born and raised in Darwin, Northern Territory.
He is the older brother of Kookaburras defender, Jeremy Hayward.{{cite web |url=https://www.ntnews.com.au/sport/kookaburras-players-jeremy-and-leon-haywards-mother-ellie-hoping-sons-make-olympic-hockey-cut/news-story/76c6d0580fa08c0d13329ea10a1fb4ae |title=Kookaburras players Jeremy and Leon Hayward's mother Ellie hoping sons make Olympic hockey cut |publisher=NT News |website=ntnews.com.au |accessdate=13 October 2019}} His mother, Ellie, is of New Zealand descent.{{cite web |url=http://blacksticks.co.nz/News/ArtMID/14632/ArticleID/2062293/Vantage-Black-Sticks-Men-bolstered-by-former-Olympians-to-take-on-Japan-in-Stratford |title=Vantage Black Sticks Men bolstered by former Olympians to take on Japan in Stratford |publisher=Vantage Black Sticks |website=blacksticks.co.nz |accessdate=13 October 2019 |archive-date=13 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191013080151/http://blacksticks.co.nz/News/ArtMID/14632/ArticleID/2062293/Vantage-Black-Sticks-Men-bolstered-by-former-Olympians-to-take-on-Japan-in-Stratford |url-status=dead }}
Career
=Domestic leagues=
==Australian Hockey League==
Leon Hayward made his debut in the Australian Hockey League for the NT Stingers during the 2012 tournament in Canberra.{{cite web |url=https://hockeyaustralia.altiusrt.com/people/1051 |title=HAYWARD Leon |publisher=Hockey Australia |website=hockeyaustralia.altiusrt.com |accessdate=13 October 2019}} He was named Goalkeeper of the Tournament during 2014 edition in Adelaide.{{cite web |url=http://www.hockey.org.au/News/tas-tigers-nsw-arrows-win |title=TAS Tigers, NSW Arrows win |publisher=Hockey Australia |website=hockey.org.au |accessdate=13 October 2019}}
==New Zealand National Hockey League==
=National teams=
==Australia Under-21==
In 2009, Hayward represented the 'Burras' on two occasions; at the Australian Youth Olympic Festival and Junior World Cup, winning gold and bronze medals respectively.{{cite web |url=https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/Library/archive/digital_archive/hockey/Hockey_Australia_Annual_Report_2008-2009.pdf |title=Hockey Australia Annual Report 2008-2009 |publisher=Government of Australia |website=clearinghouseforsport.gov.au |accessdate=13 October 2019 }}{{Dead link|date=February 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
==Kookaburras==
Leon Hayward made his debut for the Kookaburras in 2014, during a test series against India in Perth, Australia.{{cite news |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-10-14/kookaburras-include-five-uncapped-players-in-squad-for-champion/5812872 |title=Kookaburras include five uncapped players in squad for Champions Trophy hockey |newspaper=ABC News |date=14 October 2014 |accessdate=13 October 2019}} His first and only major tournament for Australia was the 2015 Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh, Malaysia, where he won a silver medal.{{cite web |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/other-sports/67707551/black-sticks-men-beat-australia-to-win-hockeys-sultan-azlan-shah-cup |title=Black Sticks men beat Australia to win hockey's Sultan Azlan Shah Cup |date=13 April 2015 |publisher=Stuff |accessdate=13 October 2019}}
==Black Sticks==
Due to his mother's ancestry, Hayward was eligible for selection in the NZL Black Sticks. He made the move to play for New Zealand following a four-year absence from Australian senior selection.
He made his debut for the Black Sticks in 2019, during a test series against Japan in Stratford, New Zealand.{{cite web |url=https://tms.fih.ch/people/7619 |title=HAYWARD Leon |publisher=International Hockey Federation |website=tms.fih.ch |accessdate=13 October 2019}}
He was part of the New Zealand hockey squad which competed in the men's field hockey tournament during the 2020 Summer Olympics.{{cite web |title=Exciting youngsters named in Olympic hockey squads |url=https://blacksticksnz.co.nz/news_events/exciting-youngsters-named-in-olympic-hockey-squads/ |access-date=2023-01-28 |website=blacksticksnz.co.nz |publisher=Hockey New Zealand |archive-date=18 June 2021 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210618015234/https://blacksticksnz.co.nz/news_events/exciting-youngsters-named-in-olympic-hockey-squads/ |url-status=dead }} It also marked his maiden appearance at the Olympics.{{cite web | title=Leon Hayward | website=Olympics.com| url=https://olympics.com/en/athletes/leon-hayward | access-date=3 February 2024}} He was also a member of the New Zealand hockey squad which competed in the men's field hockey tournament during the 2022 Commonwealth Games. It also eventually marked his maiden appearance at the Commonwealth Games.
He was also named in the New Zealand squad for the 2023 Men's FIH Hockey World Cup and it also marked his maiden FIH Hockey World Cup appearance.{{cite web | last=McAlister | first=Sean | title=2023 Men's Hockey World Cup: Full hockey squads for all nations | website=Olympics.com | date=10 January 2023 | url=https://olympics.com/en/news/all-squads-at-the-2023-mens-hockey-world-cup | access-date=3 February 2024}}{{cite web |title=Team Details New Zealand |url=https://tms.fih.ch/competitions/1163/reports/teams |accessdate=2023-01-28 |website=tms.fih.ch |publisher=International Hockey Federation |page=8}} During the 2023 Hockey World Cup, he played a clinical and important role which helped New Zealand to qualify to the quarter-final of the competition. He did not start in the playing XI in any of the matches at the 2023 FIH Hockey World Cup as he was benched in favour of first-choice goal-keeper Dom Dixon. He played a huge role in New Zealand's stunning victory over hosts India in the crossover match during the 2023 World Cup which ended up in a penalty shootout where he made five saves out of eight penalties which effectively eliminated India out of the tournament.{{Cite news |last=Ganesan |first=Uthra |date=2023-01-22 |title=Hockey World Cup {{!}} India tumbles out after a dramatic shoot-out against New Zealand |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/sport/hockey/hockey-world-cup-india-tumbles-out-after-a-dramatic-shoot-out-against-new-zealand/article66421342.ece |access-date=2023-01-28 |issn=0971-751X}}{{Cite web |date=2023-01-22 |title=IND vs NZ, Hockey World Cup 2023: New Zealand defeat India in a penalty shootout, will face Belgium next in the QFs |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/hockey/india-vs-new-zealand-live-score-hockey-world-cup-streaming-8397206/ |access-date=2023-01-28 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}} He came off the bench as a replacement to Dixon during the course of the decisive penalty shootout after both teams drew level at 3-3 before the final whistle was blown.{{Cite web |title=Meet Leon Hayward- A chartered accountant who knocked India out of FIH Men's Hockey World Cup 2023 |url=https://www.dnaindia.com/sports/report-meet-leon-hayward-a-chartered-accountant-who-knocked-india-out-of-fih-men-s-hockey-world-cup-2023-3019663 |access-date=2023-01-28 |website=DNA India |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2023-01-22 |title=India Vs New Zealand Highlights Hockey World Cup 2023: Heartbreak for IND, eliminated after losing to NZ in sudden death |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/sports/hockey/india-vs-new-zealand-hockey-world-cup-2023-live-score-updates-ind-vs-nz-kalinga-stadium-bhubaneswar-101674386364550.html |access-date=2023-01-28 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}}
= Accounting =
He also holds a job as an accountant at Finnz Chartered Accountants in Waikato, Auckland. Prior to his commitment as an employee at Finnz Chartered Accountants, he plied his trade in plenty of jobs in the field of finance and also had many coaching stints in field hockey. He reportedly admits that being a chartered accountant in day time and playing field hockey for 10 to 15 hours per week is a demanding job.{{Cite web |last=Prasad |first=Aashin |date=2023-01-23 |title=Hockey World Cup 2023: Chartered accountant Leon Hayward, who plays in 'spare time', knocks India out |url=https://sportstar.thehindu.com/hockey/hockey-world-cup-2023-goalkeeper-leon-hayward-stars-in-new-zealand-win-india-knocked-out-chartered-accountant/article66422727.ece |access-date=2023-01-28 |website=sportstar.thehindu.com |language=en}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{sports links}}
{{2020 New Zealand Olympic team}}
{{New Zealand FH Squad 2020 Summer Olympics}}
{{2022 New Zealand Commonwealth Games team}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hayward, Leon}}
Category:Australian male field hockey players
Category:New Zealand male field hockey players
Category:Male field hockey goalkeepers
Category:Olympic field hockey players for New Zealand
Category:Field hockey players at the 2020 Summer Olympics
Category:Commonwealth Games field hockey players for New Zealand
Category:Field hockey players at the 2022 Commonwealth Games
Category:Sportspeople from Darwin, Northern Territory
Category:Sportsmen from the Northern Territory
Category:2023 Men's FIH Hockey World Cup players