Andrew Heffernan discusses future plans after break from rugby league

Andrew Heffernan has not ruled out a return to rugby league after he left Hull KR to focus on his road to recovery from concussion.

Hull KR have released the 23-year-old from his contract with immediate effect and he has returned to Australia to continue his recovery from a long-standing concussion.

Heffernan last played for Rovers in April and specialists have advised the Australian not to play again this season.

He hasn’t ruled out a return to rugby league but he is planning on taking at least a 12-month break from the sport.

On his future, Heffernan said: “I don’t have any immediate plans, I just need to get my health right and then I can reassess whenever that time comes.

“I’ve been working at my off-the-field qualifications and that maybe makes it easier to take this next step.

“I had to take some time out at the end of this process and think about the prospect of this maybe being the end of my career and how that sat with me.

“I did some work on the mental health side with the club and I kind of went back to the 10-year-old me who was sat in a classroom and was asked what I wanted to do when I grew up and I said I wanted to be a rugby league player.

“If I looked back to then now, what would he think about all of this? He would be very happy that I’ve had six or so years being a professional. I’ve got to play in two different countries and the things I’ve experienced I’ll always hold with me.

“Rugby league has given me a lot and I’d like to be able to give something back, but if it’s not that then hopefully it will be in sport. I’d love to work in sports rehabilitation and performance, so if I can do that then that would be really good.

“But the memories I’ve got here and of playing for Hull KR are the best memories of my life. Getting promoted was absolutely a dream come true for me, winning that game against Widnes and then finding out that Warrington had won as well was the highlight of my career.”