Daniel Paul Heenan

Dan Heenan was a very promising backrower whose international career largely fell victim to injury. Heenan had never played rugby union when he arrived at Brisbane’s Marist Brothers College, Ashgrove however he quickly adapted to the game.

In 1998, and again in 1999, he played in the school’s 1st XV and won selection for Australian Schools, the second year as captain.

After graduation Heenan joined the GPS club, debuted for the Queensland Reds and was picked in the Australian U19 squad for the 2000 World Championships in France.

He played outstanding rugby during the 2002 U21 World Championships and subsequently earned a place in the Wallaby squad for the 2003 season where he made his Test debut against Wales in Sydney. Unfortunately he suffered a succession of injuries that ruined his World Cup dreams and much of the next two seasons.

As cruel fate would have it, Heenan won his second and final cap against England but lasted just nine minutes into the second half before he exited with a shoulder injury.

Heenan left Australia in 2007 to play for the Panasonic Wild Knights in Japan.

Highlights

1998

Represented Australian Schools against Ireland Schools and Scotland Youth.

1999

Represented Australian Schools against Wales Schools and England Schools. Captained Australian Schools against New Zealand Schools.

2000

Captained Australia at the U19s IRB-FIRA World Cup in France.

2002

Selected in the Australian squad for the inaugural IRB U21s Junior World Championship tournament in South Africa.

2003

Heenan won his first Test cap off the bench when he replaced David Lyons at blindside flanker in the 30-10 victory over Wales in Sydney.

2006

Heenan earned his only Test start at No.6 in the 1st Test, 34-3 win over England in Sydney. Heenan missed the remainder of the season after scans on the shoulder injury he suffered in that match revealed the need for reconstructive surgery.