Chris Heighington
Encyclopedia
Chris Heighington is an Australian born England international
rugby league footballer for the Wests Tigers
of the National Rugby League
(NRL). A Country NSW representative lock forward, he has also been selected to represent England at international level. He has played his whole NRL career to date with the Tigers, winning the 2005 NRL Premiership with them. Teammate Benji Marshall
describes him as, "the heart and soul of Wests Tigers
on and off the field."
over the North Queensland Cowboys
.
Heighington won the award for Wests Tigers' Player of the Year for 2008.
He was selected to play in the 2008 Country Origin
side as well as the Prime Minister's XIII
team which visited Papua New Guinea
. He was called into the 2009 Prime Minister's XIII
for the injured Luke Lewis to play against Papua New Guinea
.
Before the start of the 2011 season, Ricky Stuart named Heighington in a "Blues in Waiting" squad, for potential future NSW State of Origin players. He was described as one of, "on the cusp of selection."
Having played in every game of the 2007, 2008, 2010 and 2011 seasons, Heighington has made 181 appearances for the Wests Tigers, the most of any player currently with the club.
Considered by some unlucky to have not played State of Origin
, Heighington has a British passport through his father, and was eligible to represent England if he chose to (Heighington’s father Tom emigrated to Australia in his early-20s from County Durham
, an area the family have retained strong links with, including their association with the village of Heighington
near Darlington
).
Heighington took up the option in 2011 and was named in the Lions
train-on squad for the 2011 Four-Nations
. Coach Steve McNamara
noting, "His work-rate and work ethic are first class."
Heighington played in the warm up test against France
and also the opening game of the 2011 Four Nations against Wales
. He scored his first international try against Wales after Gareth Widdop
put Heighington over the line. Heighington played in all the preliminary games of the Four Nations, scoring a further try, but was ruled out of participating in the final.
, Beau Ryan
and Chris Lawrence
for the Gods Of Football charity calendar.
England national rugby league team
The England national rugby league team represent England in international rugby league football tournaments. The team has now seen a revival, having largely formed from the Great Britain team, who also represented Wales, Scotland and Ireland. The team is run under the auspices of the Rugby Football...
rugby league footballer for the Wests Tigers
Wests Tigers
The Wests Tigers are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Sydney's mid-western suburbs. They have competed in the National Rugby League since they were formed at the end of the 1999 season as a joint-venture club between the Balmain Tigers and the Western Suburbs...
of the National Rugby League
National Rugby League
The National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...
(NRL). A Country NSW representative lock forward, he has also been selected to represent England at international level. He has played his whole NRL career to date with the Tigers, winning the 2005 NRL Premiership with them. Teammate Benji Marshall
Benji Marshall
Benji Marshall is a professional rugby league footballer with the Wests Tigers of the National Rugby League . A goal-kicking five-eighth, he is the current captain of the New Zealand national team, with whom he won the 2008 World Cup and 2010 Four Nations tournaments...
describes him as, "the heart and soul of Wests Tigers
Wests Tigers
The Wests Tigers are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Sydney's mid-western suburbs. They have competed in the National Rugby League since they were formed at the end of the 1999 season as a joint-venture club between the Balmain Tigers and the Western Suburbs...
on and off the field."
Playing career
A Umina Bunnies junior, Heighington made his debut for Wests Tigers in 2003. He made seven appearances from the bench that year, and was a backup again in 2004. By 2005 he had cemented his place in the team and played from the interchange bench in the Tigers' 30–16 victory in the 2005 NRL grand final2005 NRL Grand Final
The 2005 NRL Grand Final was the conclusive and premiership-deciding game of the 2005 National Rugby League season. It was played on the night of Sunday, 2 October at Sydney's Telstra Stadium between 4th-placed Wests Tigers and 5th-placed North Queensland Cowboys, the only two clubs in the...
over the North Queensland Cowboys
North Queensland Cowboys
The North Queensland Cowboys are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Townsville, Queensland. They compete in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
.
Heighington won the award for Wests Tigers' Player of the Year for 2008.
He was selected to play in the 2008 Country Origin
Country Origin Team
The Country Origin Team is a representative rugby league team consisting of players formerly of the New South Wales Country Rugby League competition, one of two federations in the state of New South Wales. City annually play in the City vs Country Origin competition against the representative team...
side as well as the Prime Minister's XIII
Prime Minister's XIII
Prime Minister's XIII or the PM's XIII is the name of a representative rugby league team selected on an annual basis by the Prime Minister of Australia that consists of mainly young Australian players drawn from the National Rugby League competition to take on the Papua New Guinea national rugby...
team which visited Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
. He was called into the 2009 Prime Minister's XIII
Prime Minister's XIII
Prime Minister's XIII or the PM's XIII is the name of a representative rugby league team selected on an annual basis by the Prime Minister of Australia that consists of mainly young Australian players drawn from the National Rugby League competition to take on the Papua New Guinea national rugby...
for the injured Luke Lewis to play against Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea national rugby league team
The Papua New Guinea national rugby league team represents Papua New Guinea internationally in the sport of rugby league football.In Papua New Guinea, Rugby league is highly popular and is regarded as the country’s national sport. The national side are known as the Kumuls...
.
Before the start of the 2011 season, Ricky Stuart named Heighington in a "Blues in Waiting" squad, for potential future NSW State of Origin players. He was described as one of, "on the cusp of selection."
Having played in every game of the 2007, 2008, 2010 and 2011 seasons, Heighington has made 181 appearances for the Wests Tigers, the most of any player currently with the club.
England RL
2011Considered by some unlucky to have not played State of Origin
State of Origin
State of Origin is the name used in Australia for one existing sporting event which involves domestic representative teams. The term, when used in isolation, usually refers to rugby league football, and occassionally Australian Football matches, in which players are selected for the Australian...
, Heighington has a British passport through his father, and was eligible to represent England if he chose to (Heighington’s father Tom emigrated to Australia in his early-20s from County Durham
County Durham
County Durham is a ceremonial county and unitary district in north east England. The county town is Durham. The largest settlement in the ceremonial county is the town of Darlington...
, an area the family have retained strong links with, including their association with the village of Heighington
Heighington
Heighington can refer to two places in England:*Heighington, County Durham*Heighington, LincolnshireIt is also the surname of the following people:*Chris Heighington, Australian rugby league footballer...
near Darlington
Darlington
Darlington is a market town in the Borough of Darlington, part of the ceremonial county of County Durham, England. It lies on the small River Skerne, a tributary of the River Tees, not far from the main river. It is the main population centre in the borough, with a population of 97,838 as of 2001...
).
Heighington took up the option in 2011 and was named in the Lions
England national rugby league team
The England national rugby league team represent England in international rugby league football tournaments. The team has now seen a revival, having largely formed from the Great Britain team, who also represented Wales, Scotland and Ireland. The team is run under the auspices of the Rugby Football...
train-on squad for the 2011 Four-Nations
2011 Rugby League Four Nations
The 2011 Rugby League Four Nations tournament was the third staging of the Rugby League Four Nations tournament and was played in England and Wales during October and November of 2011...
. Coach Steve McNamara
Steve McNamara
Steve McNamara is an English professional rugby league football coach and former player. He is currently coach of the England national team.-International honours:...
noting, "His work-rate and work ethic are first class."
Heighington played in the warm up test against France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and also the opening game of the 2011 Four Nations against Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. He scored his first international try against Wales after Gareth Widdop
Gareth Widdop
Gareth Widdop is an English professional rugby league footballer currently playing for Australian club Melbourne Storm of the National Rugby League...
put Heighington over the line. Heighington played in all the preliminary games of the Four Nations, scoring a further try, but was ruled out of participating in the final.
Career highlights
- First Grade Debut: Round 1, Wests Tigers v St George Illawarra DragonsSt George Illawarra DragonsThe St George Illawarra Dragons is an Australian professional rugby league football club, representing the St. George and Illawarra regions. They have competed in the National Rugby League since 1999 as a joint venture between Sydney's historic St. George Dragons club and 1982 expansion club, the...
at Telstra Stadium, 15 March - Premierships: 2005 (West Tigers v North Queensland Cowboys)
Off-field
Heighington posed with teammates Dene HalatauDene Halatau
Dene Halatau is a professional rugby league footballer for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs of the National Rugby League . A New Zealand international representative forward, he previously played club football for the Wests Tigers, with whom he won the 2005 NRL Premiership.-Bipgraphy:Halatau is...
, Beau Ryan
Beau Ryan
Beau Ryan is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Wests Tigers of the National Rugby League. He plays primarily in the backs....
and Chris Lawrence
Chris Lawrence (rugby league)
Chris Lawrence is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Wests Tigers of the National Rugby League...
for the Gods Of Football charity calendar.