Andrew Heffernan's new focus after concussion forces him hang up the boots at 23

After a series of concussion related injuries saw a premature end to his professional rugby league aspirations, Andrew Heffernan has now turned his attention to getting the most out of other athletes.

Heffernan has started working with the Speed & Agility Academy in Canberra as he shifts into a life after football.

The Junee local rose to prominence with Southcity in 2012 before joining linking with Canberra and then making his way to Penrith.

Heading over to England, the centre helped Hull KR fight their way back into the Super League and was named the club’s best young player in the process.

However after finally cracking the top league, following a number of injury plagued seasons in Australia, a spate of concussions ended his career.

Heffernan tried hard to keep his rugby league dream alive before deciding to hang up the boots at just 23.

“I had some concussions going through juniors, but nothing too serious, but then within the space of 12 months from Easter to Easter this year I had five pretty bad ones,” Heffernan said.

“I had a lot of symptoms to go with that and damaged the vestibule system which is the connections to your brain and your balance.

“We went to a lot of specialists and couldn’t work out what was wrong and after seven months of fighting against my body I decided, along with the advice of specialists, to take time away from playing and focus on my health a bit more.”

While his symptoms are now less severe and less prevalent, Heffernan is far from recovered.

He’s still taking painkillers and even things like driving can be a problem.

It’s means he not even considering a return to playing at any level any time soon.

“I’m still having trouble writing and even struggle with driving and looking at screens at times,” he said.

“It is definitely getting much, much better but I’m not really in a position to make a call about coming back to play at any stage until your health is right.

“As well as being mentally right you need to be physically right so I’m not in a position to make a call in the near future.”

Instead he’s focusing on his work with the academy and has helped a number of high profile athletes including NRL players Blake Austin and Sia Soliola in Canberra.

Heffernan also travels to Wagga for sessions on a number of weekends believing it’s important for country kids to able to benefit from different resources just like their counterparts in the city.

“I felt as a kid growing up that we didn’t get the exposure to specific speed and agility training and it has been something that has been been really big in Sydney,” he said.

“I’m offering it to anyone in any kind of sport.”

Heffernan is holding a clinic with Roger Fabri, who has worked with the likes of Josh Addo-Carr, Sonny Bill Williams and David Warner, in Canberra next Sunday.

For more information contact alheffernan1@gmail.com. 

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