A hard look to the rear (6)
I believe the answer is:
astern
'the rear' is the definition.
(I have seen 'rear of ship' mean 'astern' so perhaps 'rear' could also mean 'astern')
'a hard' is the wordplay.
'hard' becomes 'stern' (I've seen this in another clue).
'a'+'stern'='ASTERN'
'look to' acts as a link.
This may not be correct. Some or all of it may be part of another bit of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for astern that I've seen before include "Nautically behind" , "Behind at sea" , "The wake is" , "Rearward" , "State of S central US" .)