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The Premiership bound player who is eligible to play for 5 nations
By AAP
They say rugby is the game played in heaven but the NSW Waratahs boast a rare, aptly-named talent who has a plethora of options well before he gets there.
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With an exotic heritage, hooker Julian Heaven has the unique distinction of being eligible to represent Australia, England, Spain, Germany and … Jamaica.
How?
“OK, so I’ve got a Spanish grandmother – mum’s mum – so I’m qualified for the Spanish national team,” Heaven told AAP.
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“She was born in Spain and migrated to Australia and married my German grandfather – my mother’s dad – so I’m qualified to play for Germany.
“Then on my dad’s side, dad was born in England. His mother is English and she married a Jamaican man and so I’m quarter Jamaican from dad’s side.”
With rugby barely played in the Caribbean, Heaven might have more chance of making the Jamaican bobsled team. So they’re out.
The 24-year-old toyed with the idea of committing to Spain after being picked for their national under-20s team in 2019.
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But after playing a series of trial games, Heaven turned down the Spanish offer to focus on developing his craft in France, where he enjoyed a three-year stint at Lyon.
“When I was in France, they moved me to No.8 because they thought of me as more of a dynamic flanker,” he said.
“Or because I think Australians in general produce skilful forwards rather than France, who are more set-piece oriented and smash each other.”
Germany has never been a serious option for Heaven.
Even though it is an emerging nation featuring classy forward Anton Segner, who plays Super Rugby Pacific for the defending champion Blues in New Zealand.
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A Lindfield and Gordon junior who graduated out of St Joseph’s College like so many of his Waratahs teammates, including Max Jorgensen and Triston Reilly, the Sydney-born star’s real dream is to pull on the Wallabies gold.
That’s why he has accepted a two-year deal to play in the English premiership with Exeter, who are building a strong squad laced with Australians including current club captain Scott Sio.
Like Heaven, Wallabies Tom Hooper and Len Ikitau are also joining the club later this year.
“It’s exciting for me to get a really great opportunity with Exeter and to play a lot of rugby, play weekly,” said the Waratahs’ second-choice hooker behind injured one-time Wallabies captain Dave Porecki.
“And just work on different things that I would say are strengths in England, like set piece, a very physical game, a lot of scrumming, mauling, lineouts, everything.
“So it’s a great opportunity to develop with the hope to come back and play for the Wallabies.
“That being said, I do qualify for England as well so that potential is there as well but the ultimate goal is to be here, yeah, for sure.”
Wherever he ends up in the long run, Heaven’s off-field future seems assured with the multilingual talent hoping to complete a bachelor of international business in French.
“My studies are a real priority for me because, once I finish that, the pressure is off and I can do whatever I like,” he said.
Heaven’s more immediate focus is on leaving the Waratahs with a bang.
After a topsy-turvy first half of the season, NSW take on the last-placed Fijian Drua in Lautoka on Saturday – a week after upsetting the table-topping Chiefs to remain unbeaten in five home games in 2025.
“Last year we only won two games,” Heaven said.
“This year we’ve obviously got a very different coaching staff, a lot of new players, new system and it’s starting to gel – but it’s very early days.”
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Spain would be his best bet, especially if he hopes to appear in a world cup. If he wants to break into the England team, he'll have a lot of competition.