Jacobus Hendrickus (Dougie) Heymans played prop for the Vodacom Free State Cheetahs. His Debut was in 1989 and he retired in 2001.

He has a total of 154 caps for the Free State and 26 caps for the Super 12 (Free State and the Cats).

Between 2003 and 2004 Dougie was the scrum coach for the Free State Cheetahs. In 2004 he was the scrum advisor for the Springboks Tri Nations Cup.

Continuing in 2005 and 2006, he was then appointed the forwards coach for the Central University of Technology and occasionally the Scrum Advisor for the blue Bulls.

In 2007 Dougie became the Forwards coach for the University of the Free State - Shimlas.

Dougie has been playing for the South African Rugby Legends Association from 2004 to date.