Dave Heffernan

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]

Dave Heffernan

Birth name	David Heffernan
Date of birth	(1991-01-31) 31 January 1991 (age 34)
Place of birth	Ballina, County Mayo, Ireland
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
Position(s) Hooker Current team Connacht Amateur team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) Ballina RFC () – Buccaneers () – Lansdowne FC () Senior career Years Team Apps (Points) 2012– Connacht 194 (40) Correct as of 8 April 2024 International career Years Team Apps (Points) 2010–11 Ireland U20 2 (0) 2015– Emerging Ireland 3 (0) 2017– Ireland 7 (5) 2019 Barbarians F.C. 1 (5) – Ireland Wolfhounds 1 (0) Correct as of 15 November 2022

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]