Latest setback finishes ‘Heff’

Press, 18 June 1980, Page 29

Latest setback finishes ‘Heff’

"The perfect team man” — that is the glowing but heartfelt description of the University A rugby fullback, Doug Heffernan, painted by the club’s "spiritual director,” Frank Creighton. The big-kicking, highscoring Heffernan has retired from the game because of a recurring shoulder injury. His loss will seriously affect the team’s championship chances, for both as a goal-kicker and extra attacker he was in a class of his own.

In six years and a half of senior rugby he scored 611 points for University A, and as well as 200 goals of various kinds he also contrived to score 28 tries. It was he who succeeded Fergie McCormick as Canterbury’s full-back in those dramatic days late in 1975, but he was destined to play in the shadow of Richard Wilson, and made only 17 appearances for the provincial A team. In all matches for Canterbury sides he scored 154" points. “Some have greatness thrust upon them,” said Frank Creighton. “Doug never did. but by dint of sheer guts, hard work, skill and application he made his mark in Canterbury and University rugby. Only the All Black jersey eluded him. “Many praised him for this part in the great team

effort which enabled New Zealand Universities to humble the 1977 Lions. Those few who saw all his rugby here were not surprised; it was par for the course.” .

Frank Creighton believes that Heffernan will, be ranked with other notable full-backs from the University club, such as Jack Kelly, Barry Dineen, Trevor Morris and “Sam” Leary. "And I would have loved to have seen him used at centre, because he had the strength in his running, educated hands, and the timing of. the pass to the wing perfected in his play.”