Mayo native and Connacht Rugby star excited for official opening of Dexcom Stadium

This Saturday, January 24 2026, will go down in Connacht Rugby history. The fully rebuilt Dexcom Stadium, formerly known as the Sportsground in Galway, will be officially opened. And the stage is set accordingly with reigning United Rugby Championship Leinster rolling into town. For Ballina man Heffernan it promises to be a special evening, as he looks back on 14 years with his home province. The hooker was battling a calf injury but made a successful return in Connacht’s impressive win over Montauban on Saturday night. We caught up with him ahead of the historic Dexcom Stadium opening:

David Rischke: First of all, it’s good to see you back. How are you feeling?

Dave Heffernan: “Delighted to be back. I picked up a calf injury against Ulster and I was frustrated missing those games. But I’m delighted to be back in the fold now.”

DR: You’ve been with Connacht a long time now — 14 years. With the Dexcom Stadium nearing completion, how are you feeling ahead of the Leinster game and the official opening?

DH: “I obviously can’t wait. It’s going to be pretty insane. I try not to think about it too much, but we had a tour of the stadium a couple of days ago. That was my first time sitting up in the stands and looking around, and it was unbelievable. I was hugely impressed with the work they’ve done. I can only imagine what the atmosphere will be like against Leinster — it’s going to be electric.”

DR: You joined the academy in 2011. The change since then must be massive.

DH: “It’s incredible. The amount of change that’s happened since then is unbelievable. It’s really exciting times.”

DR: If you compare the facilities now to what you had when you arrived, it’s a world apart, isn’t it?

DH: “It’s a massive difference. The High Perfromance Centre and the new stand are state-of-the-art. They’ve left no stone unturned. It helps hugely. The last season and a half were particularly difficult, especially last year. To go from that to proper world-class facilities is some turnaround.”

DR: Playing home games amid construction must have been strange.

DH: “It was definitely different. You miss the noise from the Clan Stand, 100%. The atmosphere was still very good and the fans made plenty of noise, but you do miss that stand. It’ll be pretty special to have everyone back in there.”

DR: Are you still getting used to the new layout?

DH: “The new stand was my first time seeing it this week, so that’s all completely fresh. I’ll definitely get lost a few times. It’s absolutely huge — bigger than I imagined — but in the best possible way.”

DR: Why was such a major development necessary for Connacht?

DH: “It was the next step for us as a team and as an organisation. The atmosphere was always electric, but it probably wasn’t the best fan experience at times. If we want to grow, it needed to be done.”

DR: It feels like the kind of modern rugby experience fans now expect.

DH: “Absolutely. The Sportsground was always special, but this is so much more accessible. It caters for everyone. I hope it brings in a lot of new fans who maybe couldn’t get in before.”

DR: Why is Leinster the perfect opponent for the opening game?

DH: “It’s an interpro derby with a lot of history. They’re one of the best teams in Europe and have been for over ten years. It doesn’t get much bigger than a URC home game against Leinster. They’re where we want to be, so there’s no better team to open against.”

DR: Will your family be there?

DH: “Most of them will be there. Unfortunately my parents can’t make it this time, but they’ve been at every game for years, so they’ll get a weekend off. There’ll be plenty happening and I’ll need a few extra tickets.”

DR: Have ticket requests increased for this game?

DH: “Yeah, similar to the Castlebar game last year. It’ll be one of the biggest occasions of my career. From when I joined, when The Clan Stand was built, to what we have now — it’s incredible. It’s been marked on my calendar for a long time.”

DR: Looking back, what stands out from your first days at Connacht?

DH: “I remember sitting in Nigel Carolan’s office — he was the academy manager at the time. Eric (Elwood) was my first head coach and he gave me my first cap against the Scarlets in 2012. I started at six, then moved to hooker. I remember the first pre-season and the development of The Clan Stand. I knew there was something different about the place. I never thought I’d still be here 14 or 15 years later, having played over 200 games.”

DR: You extended your contract last year. How are you feeling about the future?

DH: “I’m massively excited about the next year and a half. Stuart (Lancaster) has been unbelievable for us — one of the best coaches I’ve worked with. I’m still learning every day. It’s been a tough year, but we’re not far away. There’s absolute belief we’re close to turning a corner.”

DR: What specifically have you learned from Stuart?

DH: “He’s massive on leadership. He’s pushing senior guys to step up, whether it’s speaking in meetings or being more vocal on the pitch. I’m quieter than most, but it’s about using your voice and experience in the right way. His vision is clear — less rigid than other systems, but still very structured. That’s impressed me most.”

DR: On the season so far — results have been tight. What’s your assessment?

DH: “A lot of games come down to small moments — five or ten-minute periods where we go off-script and compound errors. There’s absolute belief in what we’re doing and I know we’re very close. I’ve never had this much belief in a coaching group. Putting it together for 80 minutes is the key. It’s frustrating, but when things click and momentum comes, it can change very quickly. I just want to rip into the next few weeks and get a couple of big wins.”

DR: From a Mayo perspective, it’s great to see players like Harry West, who scored his first Connacht try against Montauban, and Fiachna Barrett coming through.

DH: “It’s brilliant. Harry lives down the road from me and I’ve known him a long time. He’s progressed massively, despite injuries. He was already unbelievable against Montpellier. Fiachna’s been hugely impressive too. It’s great to see more Mayo lads breaking through.”

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