Jake Heenan

Heenan was announced by English Premiership contenders Bristol as having signed for the 2018-19 season and played 12 times.

Heenan suffered further injury setback during the off-season and had further surgery on his shoulder. He finally made his return on New Year's Day 2016 in a 2015–16 Pro12 game against Leinster. Heenan did not feature in the 2015–16 Challenge Cup as he was not registered for the competition due to his injury troubles. Heenan went on to make 11 appearances in the Pro12 however, including playing the full 80 minutes in the Grand Final as Connacht won the competition for the first time.

Heenan became qualified to play for Ireland in June 2016 after completing three years of residency in the country. Heenan also has dual passport and thus qualifying for England and New Zealand.

Heenan returned for the start the 2014–15 season, but suffered a recurrence of his shoulder injury against Newport Gwent Dragons in his first game back ruled him out for five months. He returned in February 2015, but broke down again against Cardiff Blues in March which ruled him out for the rest of the season. Due to these injury problems, he didn't play at all in the 2014–15 Challenge Cup, and made just five appearances in the 2014–15 Pro12, though he did score two tries.

Heenan signed on a three-year contract for Irish provincial side Connacht in May 2013, joining the team for the 2013–14 season. He joined former Blues coach Pat Lam, who had been appointed as the team's head coach. Heenan made his debut for the side on 7 September 2013, coming off the bench against Zebre in the Pro12. His first start came in an Irish provincial derby with Ulster, where Heenan played the full 80 minutes. He made his Heineken Cup debut on 11 October 2013, starting against Saracens. He was named as Connacht's player of the month for October 2013, only one month after his debut. Heenan played the full match at openside flanker for Connacht as they produced one of the biggest shocks in the history of the competition, beating four-time champions Toulouse in the pool stages in the Stade Ernest-Wallon. He made a total of 12 league and six European appearances in his first season, but missed the second half of the season after suffering a shoulder injury against Saracens in January 2014.

Heenan has represented New Zealand internationally at under-age level. He captained the New Zealand under-20s at the 2012 Junior World Championship.

Heenan has represented his country at various under-age levels. He is a former New Zealand schools player and also played for the New Zealand under-20s. Heenan captained the under-20s at the 2012 Junior World Championship, where the team lost to South Africa in the final.

Jake Heenan (born 17 March 1992) is a rugby union player from New Zealand. He plays primarily as an openside flanker. Heenan currently plays for English side Bristol. He played for Connacht from 2013 to 2018, winning a Pro12 title with the side in 2016. Heenan was also previously part of the youth setup at Super Rugby side the Blues.