Mayfield first came to note as a rugby player, when he represented Cambridge during his student years. In 1891 he won a sporting 'Blue' when he represented Cambridge in the 1891 Varsity Match. In 1891 Mayfield was selected to take part in the first official British Isles tour when he joined Bill Maclagan's team on their tour of South Africa. Mayfield was not part of the First Test at Port Elizabeth, but played in both the Second Test at Kimberley and the Third Test in Cape Town; both wins over the South African national team.