Latest news with #JoeHeyes
BBC News
08-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
History boy Heyes braced for Argentina backlash
Second Test: Argentina v EnglandDate: Saturday, 12 July Kick-off: 20:40 BST Venue: Estadio San Juan del BicentenarioCoverage: Live text commentary on the BBC Sport website and app For five years Joe Heyes packed down alongside Julian Montoya. For 80 minutes on Saturday, it was as if they had never met."We didn't really look at each other, we didn't really say a word and, at the end of the game, he just said, 'I'll see you next week'," Heyes tells BBC Sport."I suppose we'll probably have the pleasantries then."I have a huge amount of respect for Julian, I know how intense he is as a competitor, and I know it's coming again on Saturday."Montoya's disappointment was front of a passionate crowd in La Plata, the Argentina captain had just been confounded by an England performance that combined grit and glitter, with Heyes - his long-time Leicester team-mate - at its second-half tries made up most of the highlights, but England's win was built on a gloriously defiant first-half defensive to 13 men for a period by Alex Coles and Seb Atkinson's yellow cards, they shut out the Pumas and even went into the interval with a 3-0 lead thanks to a George Ford Heyes put in one shuddering hit that typified England's aggression."Somehow I hit with my right shoulder and my left one hurt," he remembers."It was that big, you know? There were just bodies flying everywhere."Everyone stepped up really well and the defence was something that we could be really, really proud of. That's our standard now." Three times in the first half, England held up Argentina over the line, gambling that they could keep the ball off the ground as they grappled the hosts backwards to earn a pressure-relieving drop-out under their own Heyes modestly describes the skill involved as turning himself into "a human speed bump", his swift pop from the base of a ruck to set up wing Tom Roebuck's second try was as smooth as fresh tarmac."I got some nice compliments after that, with elements of surprise in there," he says."My dad said he didn't know I could pass off my left. I always felt I had it in my locker, but I think a lot of people were surprised by it. I was complimented and insulted at the same time!"Heyes has been sparking a similar reaction at the front of the team bus in Argentina.A self-confessed "history nause" he delivers facts of the day to the rest of the squad."La Plata is the 'city of diagonals'," he says, recalling one of his nuggets from first-Test week."It was the first urban-planned town in South America."Argentina's answer to Milton Keynes?"There's a big cathedral in the middle, but you're probably not far off."Heyes says he is "a bit of a sucker for a cathedral". He has already visited San Juan's cathedral as the squad settle into the city before Saturday's second Buenos Aires, he got up early to make solo visits to La Casa Rosada (the presidential palace), the Metropolitan Cathedral where Pope Francis served as Archbishop and the city's food markets."I've really been a bit of a culture vulture, getting stuck right in," he says."It's a weird one, but I've always loved history. As a kid I would watch Horrible Histories on TV and get the magazines. I have always being fascinated as to why things are the way they are and how that links to history."He is just the latest England tighthead with a passion for the past. Will Stuart and Dan Cole's reading material is similarly is at a loss to explain the phenomenon."I don't know really," he says."Maybe tightheads are people of the past and looseheads are more up to date with current affairs, trends and stuff. I might be generalising there."Heyes knows how significant it will be if he and his team-mates can combine again to write headlines and history by securing a series win on Saturday."Being a team-mate of Julian's and knowing he is leading the team, I am fully, fully expecting a massive response from Argentina," he says."The only thing that we can do is making sure that we're in the right spot to do the same as we did on Saturday. We're ready for it."If we do go on and have the success we want to have on this tour, then I think some of the memories we'll make for everyone - especially these younger guys - will stay with us forever."
South Wales Guardian
03-06-2025
- Sport
- South Wales Guardian
History nut Heyes eyeing place on Argentina tour
History nut Heyes eyeing place on Argentina tour (Image: RFU/Getty Images) This article is brought to you by our exclusive subscriber partnership with our sister title USA Today, and has been written by our American colleagues. It does not necessarily reflect the view of The Herald. History nut Joe Heyes hopes his next Wikipedia rabbit hole will be all about Argentina – as that will mean he has secured a place in England's summer squad. The Leicester Tigers prop loves swotting up on destinations he visits and has no shortage of information to get stuck into this summer. Securing a spot on the plane is the first challenge but Heyes appears well set to do just that after featuring off the bench in each of England's Six Nations matches earlier this year. The 26-year-old said: "I'm madly passionate about history. I google the most ridiculous things and go from there. "I went on holiday to Tenerife, and I was sitting by the pool and just stuck in the Wikipedia hole about the place. I learnt that it was used as a Spanish shipping station to get to the Americas. "I will absolutely be researching before I go to Argentina. My favourite part of Argentine history is the Age of Discovery when Europeans first arrived and explored South America, establishing towns and cities." Heyes played an essential role off the bench behind Will Stuart in the Six Nations and now looks set to benefit from the Bath star's selection in the British & Irish Lions squad touring Australia. The Tigers front-rower even got on the scoresheet in the 68-14 win over Wales at Principality Stadium, his first international try, and hopes to add to his 17 caps this summer. The Rest Is History podcast fan will know all about conflicts between England and France in the past and the latest comes on the Allianz Stadium turf on June 21 before they head over the Atlantic. "I was really happy with the way things went in the Six Nations," Heyes said. "I got the taste of Test match rugby, and I obviously want more of it. "We've got a good challenge coming in Argentina and America, and France before that, so I'm excited. Hopefully if I'm selected to get the shirt on and play." Heyes' domestic commitments are not done yet, however, with his Leicester side welcoming Sale Sharks to Mattioli Woods Welford Road in the play-offs on Saturday. The prop tasted success with the East Midlands outfit when they won the league in 2022 and he has his sights set on repeating the feat. "We've treated nearly every game like a Prem final because it has been really, as it's been so tight at the top,' he said. 'There have been some properly tough games. "There have also been a few jokes with the Sale lads about when we beat Sharks at Welford Road. We're happy with playing in Leicester and we can't wait for it.' England XV face France XV at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, on Saturday 21 June at 3:15pm. Tickets from £25, please visit
BBC News
17-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
'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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 appearances gave Heyes something different to write about in the notebook he has dedicated to rugby 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'."
