Joe Heyes's career turnaround was a result of him re-evaluating his priorities and seeking guidance from coach Michael Cheika, who helped him regain confidence in his abilities. Having struggled with injury issues, including back spasms and neck problems, Heyes felt like he didn't deserve to be on England's tour to New Zealand last year. The absence of professional rugby had led to feelings of self-doubt and frustration.
The conversation with Cheika marked a turning point for Heyes. Cheika advised him to focus on his strengths and not worry about what he couldn't do, suggesting that playing video games like Assassin's Creed could be beneficial in terms of visualization and mental preparation.
Heyes took this advice to heart and invested time in his training regimen. He also adopted a more holistic approach to fitness, incorporating elements of mental well-being into his daily routine.
With Cheika at the helm as coach, Leicester Tigers has shown improvement, sitting fourth in the Premiership table. The biggest matches for Heyes will likely be on the Test stage, where he is now arguably the most important player for England's squad.
Despite the progress made, Heyes remains grounded and aware that anything can happen in rugby. He doesn't want to go back to feeling like he didn't belong in the team, a sentiment he understands from his own experiences last year.
The season ahead holds much promise for Heyes, both as an individual player and as part of England's squad. With his renewed focus on fitness and mental well-being, he is poised to make the most of this opportunity and prove himself as one of the top props in the sport.
The conversation with Cheika marked a turning point for Heyes. Cheika advised him to focus on his strengths and not worry about what he couldn't do, suggesting that playing video games like Assassin's Creed could be beneficial in terms of visualization and mental preparation.
Heyes took this advice to heart and invested time in his training regimen. He also adopted a more holistic approach to fitness, incorporating elements of mental well-being into his daily routine.
With Cheika at the helm as coach, Leicester Tigers has shown improvement, sitting fourth in the Premiership table. The biggest matches for Heyes will likely be on the Test stage, where he is now arguably the most important player for England's squad.
Despite the progress made, Heyes remains grounded and aware that anything can happen in rugby. He doesn't want to go back to feeling like he didn't belong in the team, a sentiment he understands from his own experiences last year.
The season ahead holds much promise for Heyes, both as an individual player and as part of England's squad. With his renewed focus on fitness and mental well-being, he is poised to make the most of this opportunity and prove himself as one of the top props in the sport.
anyway, glad cheika was able to help him turn his career around - who wouldn't want a coach with that level of mental toughness? also, props to heyes for not letting self-doubt get the best of him last year. now he's just chillin', focusing on his strengths & being a team player 
Just looked at some stats on Joe Heyes's injury history and it's crazy how much time he wasted not playing rugby 
He had 23 injuries in the past 3 years, with a 30% injury rate per season 
That's like getting hurt every other game! And his average game time was only around 55 minutes 
He's definitely worked hard to turn his career around and it's great to see him back on track 
Now let me just show you some data on how England's prop stats have changed since Heyes returned... 
HE'S FINALLY FOUND HIS FOOTING AGAIN AFTER THOSE TOUGH TIMES LAST YEAR AND IT'S AMAZING TO SEE HIM THRIVING UNDER MICHAEL CHEIKA'S COACHING 
. IT'S CLEAR THAT HE'S PUT IN THE WORK AND IS NOW BETTER EQUIPPED TO TAKE ON THE BIGGEST MATCHES FOR ENGLAND 
. I'M ROOTING FOR HIM TO CARRY ON THIS MOMENTUM AND SHOW THE WORLD WHAT HE'S CAPABLE OF! 
. also, what's next? gonna start doing yoga classes in the morning and then gaming sessions at night? feels like it's getting too crazy for sports training 
. Visualization can be pretty cool, right? And it sounds like Cheika just helped Heyes find his balance and not worry too much about what he can't do. That makes sense, I guess.
, so fingers crossed for Joe Heyes and England's squad this season! They've got a tough road ahead, but if they keep working together and taking care of themselves, maybe they can make it to the top 
I'm so happy for Joe Heyes! He's come so far and it's clear he's been working super hard to get back on track 
. Coaching from Michael Cheika must've been a total game-changer for him, I love how the guy is focusing on his strengths and not beating himself up over injuries 
! all that video game stuff was a genius idea btw 
? anyway, it's awesome to see joe feeling more confident and grounded about his abilities 
. the fact that he's now one of the top players on england's squad is a testament to his hard work and dedication 
. The fact that he's now focusing on his strengths and taking care of his mental well-being is so inspiring 
️, Interesting 
It just goes to show that even in sports, mental health is everything. I'm excited to see how he'll perform on the Test stage – England's squad needs him! 
. He's definitely got this coach-cool factor going on – let's hope he stays focused! 
been following joe heyes' journey since last year, felt like he was stuck in a rut with all those injuries 
but it's awesome to see him turn things around now 
coach michael cheika seems to have made a real difference for him 
heyes' newfound confidence is going to be key for england's squad this season 