Bryce Heem (born 18 January 1989) is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently plays as a wing or centre for the Blues in Super Rugby.[2][3]
| Full name | Bryce Ian Heem | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | 18 January 1989 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Auckland, New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 193 cm (6 ft 4 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 108 kg (17 st 0 lb; 238 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Club career
editHeem began his senior rugby career with his home province Auckland and made 3 appearances during the 2010 ITM Cup season before heading north to Whangārei to link up with Northland Taniwha as a loan player.[1] He spent 2 seasons with the Cambridge Blues and scored 5 tries in 15 appearances before heading down to the South Island to join the Tasman Mako in 2012.[2] He firmly established himself as a regular starter for the men from Nelson during their impressive 2013 and 2014 ITM Cup campaigns and this form saw him handed a Super Rugby contract with the Chiefs ahead of the 2015 Super Rugby season.[4]
On 8 April 2015, it was announced Heem would move to England to join Worcester Warriors in the Aviva Premiership from the 2015–16 season.[5] Heem marked his debut with a try in a victory over Newcastle Falcons in November 2015.
On the 18 November 2017, Heem scored a hat-trick of tries in Worcester's first win of the 2017-18 English Premiership season. The win against Northampton Saints (30-15) saw Worcester lifted from bottom of the table. A culmination of improved performances in two close losses against Harlequins, in the preceding weeks.[6]
Heem went on to play four seasons for Worcester Warriors, scoring 32 tries in 70 games.[7]
On 27 February 2019, French giants Toulon announced that they had signed Heem on a two-year deal, starting from the 2019–20 Top 14 season.[8] However, on 25 January 2021, the club granted him an early release from his contract to return to New Zealand for family reasons. He played 26 games and scored 6 tries for Toulon.[9]
He subsequently joined the Blues for the 2021 Super Rugby season.[10] He came off the bench in the Blues 41-10 win over the Chiefs in the 2024 Super Rugby Pacific Grand Final. It was the franchise's 4th Super Rugby title, and their first since 2003.
International career
editHeem represented the All Blacks Sevens side from 2011 until he signed his Super Rugby contract with the Chiefs.[11] His time on the sevens circuit saw him win a silver medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.[12]
References
edit- ^ a b "Young guns aim to fire for Taniwha". The Northern Advocate. 25 July 2010. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
- ^ a b "Bryce Heem itsrugby.co.uk Player Statistics". itsrugby.co.uk. Retrieved 16 October 2014.
- ^ "Bryce Heem ESPN Scrum Player Profile". ESPN Scrum. Retrieved 16 October 2014.
- ^ "Chiefs snap up Bryce Heem and Sean Polwart". Rugby Heaven. 16 October 2014. Retrieved 16 October 2014.
- ^ "Worcester Warriors have signed New Zealand Sevens international Bryce Heem from Super 15 side Waikato Chiefs". BBC Sport. 8 April 2015. Retrieved 18 September 2015.
- ^ "Premiership: Worcester Warriors 30-15 Northampton Saints". BBC Sport. 18 November 2017. Retrieved 18 November 2017.
- ^ "Bryce Heem Worcester Warriors player profile". Worcester Warriors. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
- ^ "Toulon sign New Zealand wing Bryce Heem as pressure mounts on Julian Savea". Stuff.co.nz. 27 February 2019. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
- ^ "Communiqué de presse – Bryce Heem libéré de son contrat" (Press release) (in French). Rugby Club Toulonnais. 25 January 2021. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
- ^ "Former New Zealand Sevens star returns home" (Press release). Blues. 17 February 2021. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
- ^ "Bryce Heem All Blacks Sevens Player Profile". All Blacks. Retrieved 16 October 2014.
- ^ "Bryce Heem Glasgow 2014 Biography". Glasgow 2014. Retrieved 16 October 2014.
External links
edit- Bryce Heem at the World Rugby Men's Sevens Series (archived)