Joe Heyes, the Leicester Tigers tighthead prop, is quietly establishing himself as the heir to a storied front-row tradition at both club and international level. The 26-year-old, who made his 15th England appearance in the recent win over Australia, acknowledges the legacy of predecessors like Martin Castrogiovanni, Julian White, and Dan Cole, but is determined to forge his own path. 'You have to respect that history, but in some ways you create your own,' Heyes said ahead of England's clash with Fiji.
Heyes credits former Tigers and England prop Dan Cole as a pivotal influence on his career. 'I was infatuated with that man,' Heyes admitted, recalling how Cole's scrummaging prowess inspired him. Cole retired at the end of last season and now works in recruitment and retention at Leicester, but his mentorship remains a key factor in Heyes's development. 'He was the guy. You'd get excited every time someone dropped a ball because it meant Coley's going to scrum now,' Heyes added.
Heyes's journey to the England squad began with a switch from football to rugby at age 15, encouraged by his Irish mother, Rachel. A book called Rugby Tough, given to him by Leicester's academy manager to address his aversion to tackling, helped him embrace the physical demands of the game. Since his debut against the United States in 2018, Heyes has grown in stature, particularly during England's tour of Argentina, where he earned a starting spot against Australia.
Under scrum coach Tom Harrison, England's set-piece has improved markedly. 'We want to be a ruthless scrum; we don't want to give away silly penalties,' Heyes explained. Off the field, Heyes has become England's unofficial tour guide, sharing his passion for history with teammates. He recently set a quiz round that proved too difficult for the squad, frustrating him when no one knew that General Custer died at the Battle of Little Bighorn.
