| 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 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dave Heffernan (born 31 January 1991) is arugby union player fromIreland. As of 2024, he plays for Irish provincial sideConnacht in thePro14. Heffernan started his career playing as aflanker, before moving to the position ofhooker. He plays his club rugby forBuccaneers. Heffernan has represented theIreland U20 team.[1][2]
Heffernan studied atUniversity of Galway.[3] He playedGaelic football forBallina Stephenites while growing up, with his fatherIvan a former inter-county player who won All-Ireland titles withMayo andUCD.[4] His uncleNiall also played for Mayo, managed Ballina Stephenites to severalMayo Senior Football Championship titles and managed the Mayo under-20 football team.[4][5][6]
TheCounty Mayo native went to school inBlackrock College before playing with Connacht at Under-19 and Under-20 level. Heffernan joined the Connacht Academy in 2011.[7] Heffernan had played in the2011–12 Pro12, making his first start againstScarlets 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 the2013–14 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 forSeán Henry againstLeinster.[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]
Internationally, Heffernan has represented Ireland at Under-20 level. He played againstFrance in the2011 Six Nations Under 20s Championship, starting at blindside flanker.[12]
NUI Galway became Connacht's Academy and University partner in 2013, and since then 19 Connacht players have graduated, or are about to graduate, from NUI Galway including current senior squad members Denis Buckley, Eoin Griffin, Eoin McKeon, Andrew Browne, Dave Heffernan, Jack Carty, Darragh Leader, Eoghan Masterson, Seán O'Brien and Conor McKeon.