Heyes started last Saturday’s victory over Australia and will be in action when Fiji visit Allianz Stadium in this weekend’s second autumn international to continue his breakthrough 2025.

But the Leicester prop might have turned his back on England had his mum Rachel, a former Ireland basketball player, succeeded in persuading him to choose green over white.

As an emerging tighthead at Leicester, the opportunity to learn from Tigers and England great Cole – who retired last season aged 38 – made the decision a formality.

“My mum’s Irish and my mum and dad divorced, so my dad wasn’t in the house. It was an Irish household in Nottinghamshire and she was always pushing me to play for Ireland,” Heyes said.

“But I’ve chosen the right side and she’s incredibly proud of me. I might have upset

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