Joe Heyes: England's Unlikely Hero Finds Strength in Struggle
For Joe Heyes, the path to becoming England's most crucial prop has been anything but straightforward. The Leicester forward, now 26, has endured numerous setbacks that would have broken lesser spirits, yet he has emerged stronger, ready to anchor England's pack in the upcoming Six Nations championship.
The Long Road from Bagshot Disappointments
Heyes recalls the painful drives home from England training camps in Bagshot, where he faced repeated omissions from matchday squads. "I ain't seen the sunshine since I don't when..." became his anthem through Johnny Cash's Folsom Prison Blues, soundtracking moments of profound doubt about whether his sacrifices would ever yield rewards.
Today, the narrative has transformed dramatically. With injuries sidelining tightheads Will Stuart and Asher Opoku-Fordjour, plus loosehead Fin Baxter, Heyes has become indispensable to England's front-row plans. "If they had enough cotton wool, England would be wrapping the now indispensable Heyes up in it," observes the article, highlighting his sudden elevation from fringe player to cornerstone.
From Goalkeeping Dreams to Rugby Realities
Heyes' sporting journey began far from the rugby pitch. Coming from a family of goalkeepers – his father played for Nottingham Forest, his grandfather professionally for Leicester and Swansea – he initially pursued football. However, being perpetually "second string" in Forest's academy led to disillusionment. "After a while I thought, 'I'm not doing that,'" he admits, prompting his switch to rugby at Moderns RFC in Nottingham.
His transition wasn't smooth. As a teenager, Heyes ballooned to 145kg during a "pretty tough patch mentally" at 16-17. Through gruelling Wattbike sessions in Leicester's academy, he trimmed down to 114kg, though he now maintains around 126kg at 6ft 2in. His progress at club level was blocked by veteran Dan Cole, whom he describes as "superhuman," and Logovi'i Mulipola, testing his patience further.
Breaking the 'Doom Loop' with Simple Wisdom
The turning point came during England's 2024 summer tour to Japan and New Zealand, where he didn't feature. Coaches challenged him to improve his defensive work and scrummaging consistency. "I thought, 'Right, this is it, this is my turnaround.' In my notebook I wrote, 'Next year is my year,'" Heyes reveals.
Former Leicester coach Michael Cheika provided crucial guidance, advising: "You're a tighthead. Just run, scrum and hit." This straightforward mantra helped Heyes escape his negative thought patterns. "That broke me out of the 'doom loop' spiral I was in," he acknowledges.
Embracing Quirks and Culinary Passions
Heyes has consciously cultivated positivity and self-acceptance. "Before I probably didn't like my own company," he confesses, but now celebrates his distinctive traits. A history enthusiast who devoured Horrible Histories, he currently role-plays as a Napoleonic soldier in online wargames.
His interests extend to countryside walks and cooking, particularly with butter. "I'm a big fan of cooking with butter. I'm not massive on supplements. If I want to get my protein, I want to eat something nice," he states, recalling preparing ramen broth for his girlfriend Anita before England's Spain camp. He humorously critiques former player Chris Robshaw's Beef Wellington as "pretty horrendous."
Humour and Heritage in Equal Measure
Heyes' playful nature surfaces in anecdotes about junior hammer-throwing disasters and finding humour in misprinted road signs. He lives in a characterful 18th-century cottage with low doorways that challenge taller visitors. "I've had people hitting the bridge of their nose walking in. Getting a nosebleed isn't a nice welcome to a house," he jokes.
His Six Nations participation holds special significance given his mixed heritage: an Irish mother and Welsh-heritage father. "My mum wears an Irish hat and an England scarf, or vice versa. I think that's great... it's what it's all about," he smiles.
Gratitude for the Grind
Now eyeing his first Six Nations start after impressive November performances against Australia, Fiji, and New Zealand, Heyes remains grounded, rooming with Bath's young talent Billy Sela. "You just look at him and think: 'These youngsters are superhuman freaks,'" he remarks.
Reflecting on his journey, Heyes expresses deep gratitude for family support and the hardships themselves. "It would be boring if everything always went well. A lot of my hardships have made me who I am," he philosophises, embodying resilience that inspires beyond rugby. "The story's not over but it's a nice story of resilience and sticking at it," he concludes, ready for whatever challenges – and triumphs – lie ahead.
