He made his first class debut for Port Elizabeth-based side Mighty Elephants in 2000, playing for them in the domestic Currie Cup and Vodacom Cup competitions for the next six seasons, mainly in the First Division. During this time, he was also included in the Sharks Super Rugby squad in 2002 and 2003.
At the start of the 2006 season, he moved to Kimberley to join Griquas, where he plied his trade between 2006 and 2009. He also experienced some Super Rugby action during this time, making thirteen appearances for the Cheetahs during the 2009 Super 14 season.
In 2010, he moved to Japanese side Suntory Sungoliath, where he played during the 2009–10[2] and 2010–11[3] Top League seasons.
He returned to the Eastern Cape at the conclusion of the 2010–11 Top League season, rejoining former side Mighty Elephants – which was rebranded the Eastern Province Kings in 2010 – during the 2011 Vodacom Cup season and made just short of 50 appearances for them during his second spell at the side.
He was initially named in the Southern Kings wider training squad for their inaugural season of Super Rugby in 2013, but was subsequently released to their Vodacom Cup squad.[4]
He announced his retirement after the conclusion of the 2013 Currie Cup First Division season.[5]
Van Heerden also made several appearances for various South African national sides – he played for the South African Schools side in 1997 and 1998, as well as for the Under-19 national side in 1998. He also played for South Africa at Under-21 level in 2000, at Under-23 level in 2001 and for a South African 'A' side in 2001 and 2002.
He joined the rugby sevens circuit in 2001 and represented the South African Sevens side – nicknamed the Blitzbokke – between 2001 and 2005.
In 2011, he also played for the South African Kings at the 2011 IRB Nations Cup competition.