Jamie Heaslip Told Us All About His Simple Post-Training Routine

James Fenton

Ireland rugby star Jamie Heaslip didn’t get where he is today with hard work and dedication to training.

The Leinster man has won three Champions Cups with his club while amassing nearly 100 appearances for his country, securing three Six Nations Championships and a Grand Slam along the way.

While a stringent training schedule for both club and country go a long way to achieving success, what does Jamie feel is essential to warm down after in individual or team workout?

We had a chat so we could find out.

“You have a half hour window to get fuel into you so it gets into your muscles essentially. After weights or after a training session, get the right food in.

“I take a vegetable protein supplement and mix it up with some coconut water. Get all the right proteins, carbs and make sure your hydrating at the same time.”

Not that complicated is it?

Heaslip’s dedication and commitment to the Irish cause have never been in doubt but when asked of which Irish sports star outside rugby he admired most, a few names sprang to mind.

“Tony McCoy would be one. His successes and his drive are sensational. In golf, you look at Rory McIlroy and Padraig Harrington. They’d be people I’d look at and go “wow”.

Then you look at someone like Robbie Keane or Damien Duff. The success and longevity of their success as well is amazing.

McCoy tips it for me though. Just the injuries he’s been through and the drive and hunger that man had to take part in race after race, so many races, even on the same day. So he’d be number one for me.”

While disappointment at not getting beyond the quarter-finals of the last World Cup remains, Jamie has a particular reason to be excited for Japan 2019.

Ireland have been drawn in what many see as a relatively easy group alongside hosts Scotland and the host nation but Jamie reckons things will be tougher than they seem.

The 33-year-old explained:

“It’s gonna be tough. Scotland as we know over the past couple of years, we’ve had our own battles with them. We’ve won some, lost some.

“Japan, we saw what they could do at the last World Cup when they beat South Africa. Plus, they’re the home nation.

“And the fact my brother is married to a girl from Osaka and they’ve just had twins, a boy and a girl. I’m godfather to the boy. So that boy is very much gonna be an Irish supporter come that tournament!

“So the family connection and the fact Japan are the host nation has got me very excited about the whole thing. It adds an extra level to it. But it’s the World Cup, anything can happen. It’s going to be tough to get out of that group.

“You’ve got to win six or seven games against the best in the world to win the World Cup. It ain’t easy.

One extra supporter for Ireland in two years time can’t be a bad thing. Let’s hope the Heaslips aren’t too divided once the lads are lifting that trophy!