John Heyward grew up in the western Sydney suburb of Auburn and later moved with his family to the nearby suburb of Chester Hill. He was educated at Sefton High School where he played rugby league. In 1971 he was recorded playing with the Chester Hill Hornets C Grade team.
The Chester Hill Club played in the Canterbury Bankstown junior rugby league competition. The junior competition in the Canterbury district was particularly strong at that time. In 1971, the President Cup team played in the final and the Jersey Flegg team won that competition.
In the “Magpies Journal” in May 1972 it was recorded that John had played as a Centre in Canterbury’s Jersey Flegg Cup Team. John could have trialled with Canterbury but decided to try his luck with Wests. He came along unheralded to trial in any grade and in any position that he could get a run.
