Dave Heffernan
Irish rugby union player (born 1991)
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Dave Heffernan (born 31 January 1991) is a rugby union player from Ireland. As of 2024, he plays for Irish provincial side Connacht in the Pro14. Heffernan started his career playing as a flanker, before moving to the position of hooker. He plays his club rugby for Buccaneers. Heffernan has represented the Ireland U20 team.[1][2]
31 January 1991
| Born | David Heffernan 31 January 1991 Ballina, County Mayo, Ireland | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Height | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 110 kg (17 st 5 lb)[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Blackrock College | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| University | University of Galway | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Heffernan studied at University of Galway.[3] He played Gaelic football for Ballina Stephenites while growing up, with his father Ivan a former inter-county player who won All-Ireland titles with Mayo and UCD.[4] His uncle Niall also played for Mayo, managed Ballina Stephenites to several Mayo Senior Football Championship titles and managed the Mayo under-20 football team.[4][5][6]
Career
Connacht
The County Mayo native went to school in Blackrock College before playing with Connacht at Under-19 and Under-20 level. Heffernan joined the Connacht Academy in 2011.[7] Heffernan had played in the 2011–12 Pro12, making his first start against Scarlets on 2 March 2012, while still an academy player. He played as a blindside flanker, and stayed on the field for the full 80 minutes.[8] After having spent two years in the Connacht Academy, Heffernan progressed to the full senior set-up, ahead of the 2013–14 Pro12 season.[7]
Before the start of the 2013–14 season, Heffernan was converted from a back-row forward into a hooker.[9] He made his first senior appearance in his new position on 26 October 2013, coming on as a replacement for Seán Henry against Leinster.[10] In total, Heffernan made 12 appearances in the 2013–14 league, 11 of these coming from the bench.[2] In April 2014, Heffernan signed a contract extension with Connacht to keep him with the side until the end of the 2014–15 season.[11]
International
Internationally, Heffernan has represented Ireland at Under-20 level. He played against France in the 2011 Six Nations Under 20s Championship, starting at blindside flanker.[12]