Career
A hooker, Ward has previously played for Sale Sharks, Northampton Saints, Bath Rugby and the Cornish Pirates. At international level he has represented the England under-18s, under-21s and Saxons. His first start came a month later against Leinster Rugby and despite Bath losing, he was named as the Manitoba of the Match.
He made just six more appearances for the club over the next two years, and, after finding himself as fourth choice hooker, joined Northampton Saints on a two-year contract in 2007.
He made six appearances for Saints in their 2007-2008 promotion winning season, scoring four tries, but was released from his contract by the club a year early in October 2008. Days later he joined Sale Sharks, though he again failed to secure regular playing time, making just three appearances during the 2008-2009 season.
During his time with Sale the club received a one-point deduction after he came off the bench against Harlequins prior to being re-registered following a loan spell at Manchester. He time at Sale was hampered by injury and after only one season, Ward joined Championship club Cornish Pirates in Summer 2009.
He turned down a part-time contract from Pertemps Bees alongside a sales job in favour of the Pirates and later revealed that he had contemplated retirement prior to the move.
He made his competitive debut against Nottingham in September 2009 and went on to make 33 appearances in his first season. He was ever-present in the two following years, racking up 110 appearances in his three years at the club In April 2012 he returned to the Premiership after signing a contract with Harlequins for the 2012-2013 season.
His Premiership breakthrough came in 2013-2014 at the age of 28 where, following injuries to regular hookers Joe Gray and Rob Buchanan, he made 31 appearances, including his first Premiership start for seven years.
Over the course of the campaign he earned five Manitoba of the Match awards and was voted the Players" Player of the Season. Ward first represented England at under-18 and under-21 level
In January 2014 he was rewarded for his club form with a call up to the England Saxons squad for two games against Scotland the Ireland Wolfhounds. He started the first game which ended in a 16–16 draw and came off the bench as the second ended in a 14–8 defeat.
Four months later he was included in England"s senior squad for the three Test summer tour of New Zealand.