'Dad was crying in the stands' - Heyes reflects on England recall
Joe Heyes was momentarily left dumbstruck when he crashed over for his first England try.What was the eighth touchdown of a 10-try Six Nations thumping of Wales in March was just the prop's third try in almost six years in all competitions for club and country.In almost 160 appearances across seven seasons with Leicester Tigers, Heyes has scored only one try."I never score," he laughed when talking to BBC Radio Leicester about the milestone moment."I remember putting the ball down and thinking 'is this allowed? Am I supposed to score? And surely they will bring it back for something'."But the feeling of disbelief went deeper than just crossing the whitewash for the first time on the full international stage - having previously managed the rare feat for England A.Just being at Cardiff's Principality Stadium to clutch the offload from Tom Willis and slam down his finish is something the 26-year-old freely admits he doubted was possible."It was amazing to get my first try and it was an unbelievable experience," Heyes said."Seeing my Dad after the game, I had friends in the stands with him and they were holding his hand as he was crying. It is all a bit ridiculous, but he was very proud of me."
Heyes had come off the bench - as he had done for England in all four previous games in the tournament - to make his try-scoring contribution in the 68-14 thumping of Wales that gave England hope of snatching the championship title on the final day.Before the Six Nations, he had gone two years and three months without earning a cap despite being called up to the England squad in that time.In December, Heyes spoke about how he was using the "hurt" of being overlooked for an England recall to work even harder on making his international return.Even when called into the Six Nations squad, Heyes was wary of his chances of featuring after failing to make an appearance when he toured with England last summer."I went in probably not really expecting to play again," Heyes said."You go out there to try as hard as you can in training and all these things. I took it day by day, just worked my socks off and got the opportunities, which were incredible."Before working his way back into England favour under former Tigers boss Steve Borthwick, Heyes has had to re-establish himself in Leicester's front row.He started just seven Premiership matches last season, but under head coach Michael Cheika this term he has been first choice as tight-head ahead of celebrated fellow England international Dan Cole for a side that is now third in the table and pushing for a play-off spot. Still, Heyes said he joined up with the national team "ready for anything", even if adding to his previous seven international caps was not what he expected."It's a tough mindset to get into," Heyes said. "I didn't prepare myself for disappointment. I try to stay ready for anything and never assume anything. Whatever role I got in the team, I just wanted to do that as best as I could."The role he played was to come off the bench as Will Stuart's replacement.Those appearances gave Heyes something different to write about in the notebook he has dedicated to rugby thoughts.Among his musing, he admits doubts about his England future had crept in."I'd had a few years of not playing [for England], and it [wanting to play for England] is the reason I started playing rugby," Heyes said."I was my dream and still is my dream. But it's quite difficult when you have done something that is your dream and your goal, how do you stay motivated and keep doing this?"I didn't want to give up, but I had many thoughts in my head over the duration of time that I wasn't playing, that I'm going to give up here. "But I told myself 'no, this is why I started playing rugby and I'll regret it when I'm 50 years old sat in the pub going 'oh damn, if only I didn't give up'."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scotsman
4 hours ago
- Scotsman
Finn Russell inspires Bath comeback to keep treble dream alive but Scotland star sparks injury scare for final
Bath power into Premiership final with second-half show Sign up to our Rugby Union newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Scotland star Finn Russell inspired a second-half comeback for Bath against Bristol to reach the Gallagher Premiership final - although the west-country side will have some concerns over his fitness after he came off late on with a leg injury. Stand-off Russell and his teammates overcame a seven-point deficit at the break eventually prevail 34-20 victory over near-neighbours Bristol and set up a clash at Twickenham next weekend against either Leicester Tigers or Sale Sharks. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Russell bagged 14 points and was key to their second-half turnaround, ably assisted by fellow Scotland internationalists Cam Redpath and Josh Bayliss. It keeps Bath's hopes of a treble alive with the Premiership Cup and Challenge Cup already in the bag as Johan van Graan's team look to atone for losing last season's final to Northampton. Scotland star Finn Russell helped Bath defeat Bristol. | Getty Images They will hope that Russell's injury is nothing more than a dead leg after he was replaced in the closing stages. The 32-year-old has become a talisman for club as well as country and did his Lions starting credentials no harm at all with this performance. He was all smiles at the end but no doubt Bath will assess his condition. Bristol were 13-6 in front at the break and it could have been more. The try of the match was scored by their lock James Dun after Fiji wing Kalaveti Ravouvou set off from his own line, leaving four Bath defenders in his wake. Guy Pepper started in the Bath back row in the absence of the suspended Sam Underhill, while Redpath replaced Will Butt at centre. England prop Ellis Genge was recalled to the Bristol pack along with Dun and centurion Steven Luatua. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad A fast and furious first half opened with a penalty to Bristol which was quickly reversed for some ill-advised verbals. When Bath then laid siege to the visitors' line, Genge was the man who held up the ball to earn a relieving drop-out. Tough start for Bath Both sides were probing for any advantage they could find and the first points went to Bristol as AJ MacGinty punished Pepper's infringement at a ruck with a straightforward penalty after 12 minutes. When hooker Gabriel Oghre broke clear, Bath had to defend desperately before Ben Spencer eased the anxiety with a long kick upfield. But Ravouvou, collecting the ball near his own line, somehow evaded a quartet of would-be tacklers and the home defence was soon spreadeagled at the other end. Lock Dun eventually cut a simple line to the posts and MacGinty added the conversion for a 10-0 lead. Ravouvou was soon sent to the sin bin for preventing a quick-tapped penalty by Spencer, allowing Russell to pull back three points for Bath but MacGinty immediately replied to make it 13-6 at the break. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Finn Russell celebrates with Bath owner Bruce Craig. | Getty Images Losing scrum-half Harry Randall to a shoulder injury just before half-time had not helped Bristol's cause and a Ted Hill try converted by Russell straight after the break brought Bath level. Joe Cokanasiga swooped on a teasing kick ahead by Tom de Glanville to score Bath's third try shortly after to put them ahead for the first time. When Will Muir finished off a prolonged period of pressure by touching down in the left corner and Max Ojomoh added a fifth on the hour, Bath were back in command. With Russell faultless from the tee, the score was suddenly 34-13.
South Wales Argus
4 hours ago
- South Wales Argus
England beat Wales 47-14 in World Rugby U20 Championship warm-up
A sizeable crowd, both in the ground and watching on from the grass bank outside the fencing, was treated to an entertaining if loose encounter in Torfaen. Wales led 14-7 at the break thanks to tries in the first quarter through centre Elijah Evans – despite not grounding the ball – and flanker Caio James, with openside Reggie Hammick crossing for England. The world champions responded with a dominant second-half showing, scoring tries through blindside George Timmins, Hammick, wing Tyler Offiah, flanker Jonny Weimann and The game went from 14-14 to a hammering in the blink of the eye as English pace and power told in the final quarter. It was, of course, only a warm-up fixture with with no anthems, some lenient refereeing to try and let things flow, no penalties kicked at goal and plenty of subs. Both sides will have learnt plenty and will hope that the inevitable casualties soon get the all clear from the medics. Wales dashed English Grand Slam dreams at Cardiff Arms Park in March with a 23-13 victory earned by going toe-to-toe with the world champions and rattling them. That meant that this tune-up was sure to have its spicey moments, and that's exactly what both sets of coaches wanted in the build up to the tournament in Italy. The two teams were drastically different to that Six Nations encounter with five starters retained in the home XV and three in the English selection – opportunity knocked for spots in the final squad. Wales were captained by Dragons number eight Evan Minto in his hometown and he was one of five starters who played for Pontypool in Super Rygbi Cymru last season, with flanker Ryan Jones, tighthead Owain James, fly-half Harri Ford and wing Ioan Duggan the others. Pooler and Cardiff Met hooker Evan Wood was on the bench along with Dragons scrum-half Logan Franklin and influential openside Harry Beddall, who moves to Rodney Parade from Leicester this summer. FORTUNATE: Wales got the opener despite Elijah Evans knocking on (Image: Mark Lewis/Huw Evans Agency) There was, understandably, an element of scrappiness to the opening exchanges and that was how the opener was scored after eight minutes. Scrum-half Sion Davies hacked the ball on and Cardiff teammate Evans won the foot race, although he didn't ground the ball and was lucky that referee Ben Breakspear awarded him a try that Ford converted rather than a knock on. Wales were bossing matters with play almost exclusively in the English half, and it was 14-0 after 18 minutes with Gloucester flanker Caio James at the bottom of a driving lineout. The visitors, to the frustration of their coaching team, had barely fired a shot and were second best in all facets of the game but were on the scoreboard in the 25th minute. Fly-half Josh Bellamy followed a line break with a calm assist for openside Hammick to show a serious turn of speed to finish from 30 metres, with Bellamy adding the extras. Wales were causing problems with their variety of kicks and one dab through earned a chance from a five-metre scrum as half-time approached, only for England to get over the ball and win a penalty to release the pressure. A fair few players were blowing – what the fixture was designed for – and glad to hear the half-time whistle with the hosts 14-7 to the good as the coaches passed on some pearls of wisdom. There were some changes at the break and one of the new boys, Luke Evans, was swiftly shown yellow after some overexuberance. England were dominant against 14-man Wales but failed to take chances to level due to a lack of composure in the 22. However, the pressure eventually told right at the end of the sin-bin period with a close range try by blindside Timmins after a scrum against the head, Bellamy levelling the scores with a simple conversion. England should have been in front after 56 minutes after some lovely handling released Offiah but the son of Martin dropped the ball over the line after trying to bump off last-man Jack Woods, his Bath teammate from Abercarn. It was getting manic, which led to a comical Welsh 'try' just past the hour and, ultimately, a turning point. Wing Aidan Boshoff went down with cramp and got treatment and was retreating back to the defensive line when he claimed an England cross-kick and raced away. Mr Breakspear eventually went back to penalise the Bristol speedster for being offside, England kicked to the corner and then won a penalty try. The visitors were 21-14 up when it looked like they could have been down by the same scoreline, then reaped the rewards of daring to play from a loose kick and iffy chase to work space for Hammick to race away. England were running wild and Offiah picked off a pass to scorch down the right, Weimann went over down the left and another interception led to Nic Allison breaking away. Wales scorers: tries – E Evans, C James; conversions – H Ford (2). England scorers: tries – R Hammick (2), G Timmins, penalty, T Offiah, J Weimann, N Allison; conversions – J Bellamy (2), B Coen (3). Wales U20 : Lewis Edwards (Ospreys); Ioan Duggan (Dragons), Elijah Evans (Cardiff Rugby), Elis Price (Scarlets), Aidan Boshoff (Bristol Bears); Harri Ford (Dragons), Sion Davies (Cardiff Rugby); Cam Tyler-Grocott (Cardiff Rugby), Saul Hurley (Aberavon), Owain James (Dragons), Dan Gemine (Ospreys), Kenzie Jenkins (Bristol Bears), Ryan Jones (Dragons), Caio James (Gloucester), Evan Minto (Dragons, captain). Replacements: Evan Wood (Pontypool/Cardiff Met), Louie Trevett (Bristol Bears), Jac Pritchard (Scarlets), Tom Cottle (RGC), Luke Evans (Exeter Chiefs), Deain Gwynne (Gloucester), Harry Beddall (Dragons), Logan Franklin (Dragons), Lloyd Lucas (Cardiff Rugby), Dylan Scott (Cardiff Met), Steffan Emanuel (Cardiff Rugby), Osian Darwin-Lewis (Cardiff Rugby), Jack Woods (Bath Rugby), Dylan Alford (Scarlets). Referee: Ben Breakspear (Wales).
The Guardian
5 hours ago
- The Guardian
Bath's second-half revival carries them past Bristol and into Premiership final
Bath's oval-ball custodians have spent years trying – and failing – to construct a team to match the striking nature of their home city. Now, finally, they are within 80 minutes of claiming their first domestic league title since 1995-96 after a storming second-half revival put paid to a gallant Bristol side who had led by seven points at half-time. If the outcome was still theoretically up in the air at the interval there was not a shred of doubt by the hour mark, Bath launching a blistering fusillade that yielded four converted tries without reply and underlined their status as short-priced favourites to lift the Premiership trophy at Twickenham next Saturday. The final margin was slightly harsh on a Bears team who played a full part in a stonking contest that, once again, ticked pretty much every box from an entertainment perspective. Bristol were thrilling to watch in the first half but never quite managed to build the kind of scoreboard pressure that might have caused a famous upset, eventually disappearing beneath a quartet of third-quarter tries from Ted Hill, Joe Cokanasiga, Will Muir and Max Ojomoh, all converted by a nerveless Finn Russell. It was always destined to be a passion-filled evening on the banks of the River Avon and a fast and furious game matched the febrile atmosphere. Bristol had won 11 of the last 14 matches between the clubs and their director of rugby, Pat Lam, had made a few pointed remarks about Bath's more expensively-assembled squad. He also revealed he had advised his wife not to attend because of the probability of being soaked if she sat out with the travelling Bears' fans in the famously exposed – not to mention pricey – open stand at the Rec. Never trust a long-range West Country weather forecast. As it turned out the rain held off and conditions were perfect. Particularly so for the visitors, whose game is better suited to a dry ball. On this type of occasion, against the side who topped the regular season table by 11 points, they needed every little bonus they could find. And despite an initial surge of Bath forward pressure it was the Bears who enjoyed the lion's share of the early points. AJ MacGinty slotted the game's first points after Guy Pepper was slightly too enthusiastic at the breakdown and a shaken Bath found themselves 10 points down when a spectacular long-range counterattack launched by Kalaveti Ravouvou and some deft forward interplay ended with the second row James Dun galloping over by the posts. Dun's father Andy was once a Bristol stalwart and the whole crackling occasion felt deeply personal, with more than bragging rights at stake. It was definitely not helpful to the Bears' cause, then, when Ravouvou was shown a yellow card for trying to stop Bath taking a quick tap and cost his side a further three points in the process. Even with 14 men, though, Bristol kept on coming. Bath's defence were pulled this way and that, the point of attack constantly shifting. Only a desperate rearguard action prevented the Bears from scoring another belting multi-phase try and a botched lineout drill five metres out then allowed Bath to escape again. When Bristol do flick the turbo switch they look irresistible but games of top-level rugby are not definitively settled inside the first 40 minutes, particularly at this venue. Bath's strength in depth has frequently been their trump card this season so it was doubly worrying for the Bears when the effervescent Harry Randall was led groggily away to the changing rooms and replaced by Kieran Marmion. Sign up to The Breakdown The latest rugby union news and analysis, plus all the week's action reviewed after newsletter promotion A penalty just before the interval from MacGinty, though, extended Bristol's advantage to 13-6 and caused a slight hush to fall around the ground. Losing in the final is one thing but going down at home to Bristol in a massive semi-final? The onus was on Bath's familiar matchwinners to come up with the antidote to the onrushing grizzly Bears for whom Viliame Mata, Steven Luatua and Bernhard Janse van Rensburg were all exerting their usual influence. And, sure enough, in the first 19 minutes after the restart four servings of much-needed relief duly materialised. First the visitors messed up the restart, conceded a soft penalty and gave Bath the platform from which to launch a purposeful attack which ended with Hill scoring in the left corner. Russell's wide-angled conversion was a further bonus and there was even better to come, a horrible bounce eluding Ravouvou and allowing Cokanasiga to strike. Now the tide was turning and some tight refereeing calls were also going Bath's way. A pass by Noah Heward was adjudged fractionally forward and, once again, the home side were instantly energised. Muir crashed over in the left corner to extend the lead further and, within five minutes with Bristol again down to 14 players, Ojomoh inflicted further damage. Even when sorely tested this stacked Bath squad tend to come up with a resounding answer.
