Code-hopper Tiger Joe pushing for more caps
RUGBY careers tend to be forged in academies, but not many players in the oval code have emerged from Nottingham Forest’s.
Joe Heyes was a 14-year old goalkeeper tipped for success when he had an epiphany and switched codes.
Within four years Heyes, whose father and grandfather were professional footballers, was playing for England at U18 level having joined Leicester’s academy and last summer he made his full international debut when he started against the United States at Twickenham.
“I always had an interest in rugby through my mum,” said the 22-year old Heyes. “She was Irish and when the Six Nations came around she would get out her flag and I would wear my England jersey. I enjoyed the rivalry in the tournament, although my dad did not have much love for the game.
“I was at Forest and some people there thought I had potential and could go on to achieve great things, but there came a day when I decided I wanted to give rugby a go. I told the club I wanted to quit football and they did not believe me. They thought I was going to Manchester United and asked me to sign a contract.
“I went to a pub for dinner with my mum and across the road was a rugby club, Nottingham Moderns. It was a real out of the water decision and I have not looked back since. And my dad (Darren Heyes), who was Derby County’s goalkeeping coach before becoming the head of Notts County’s academy, is converted to rugby now.”
Heyes’ first position in rugby was inside centre. He moved to No.8, but when he arrived at Welford Road, one of the coaches there, Brett Deacon, told him that his future lay at tighthead prop because of his shape.
“He has strong hips, broad shoulders and a square back,” said Deacon. “It makes him a perfect tighthead. He takes his role really seriously and he is patient, pushing to improve all the time. Scrummaging is really important to him and Joe has a big future ahead of him.”
Heyes has been involved in six of leaders Leicester’s eight Premiership matches this season, all as a replacement with the former England and Lions prop Dan Cole starting in every round.
“Because I did not support the club when I was younger, I had to learn its culture and what it meant to people when I came into the academy,” said Heyes, who was born in Nottingham. “It helped that my grandparents lived there and they understood how important the club was to the local population.
“I fully understand now what we are playing for and it is an honour to be part of the club. Learning from someone like Dan Cole, one of the most decorated players in the world, is a pleasure.”
Heyes was called up by England last year to play against the Barbarians, but the match was cancelled because a breach of Covid19 protocol by some opposition players. When the pandemic claimed the summer A match with Scotland at Welford Road, he questioned whether a Test career was meant to be.
“I wondered if I would ever play for England so to start against the United States was incredible,” he said. “At the time I did not quite understand the enormity of it, but walking into the dressing room, putting on the shirt and walking out on to Twickenham changed that.
“Ellis Genge asked me 30 minutes into the match whether I was enjoying it and I realised I was loving it. I want to play for England
more having enjoyed the experience of being part of the squad. You have to be switched on all the time with every day an opportunity to learn and get better. It is a really switched on environment.”
With two caps and Leicester heading the table, Heyes has no reason to question his decision to give up football. “Sometimes I wonder what would have happened had I stayed at Forest,” he said.
“Who knows? I am not looking back. I love it at Leicester where everyone is on the same page. We are a tight bunch and know exactly what we are doing.”