Denis Hickie

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Denis Hickie

St. Mary's College, Dublin
University	University College Dublin
Rugby union career
Position(s) Wing Amateur team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) UCD RFC, St. Mary’s College () Provincial / State sides Years Team Apps (Points) 1996–2007 Leinster Rugby 129 (303) Correct as of 2007-03-06 International career Years Team Apps (Points) 1997–2007 2005 Ireland British & Irish Lions 62 (145) Correct as of 2007-03-06

Denis Anthony Hickie (

. He earned 51 caps for Ireland, scoring 29 tries for Ireland and held the Irish try-scoring record until his Leinster colleague Brian O'Driscoll broke it in 2008.

He is also known as Disco Denis as a result of his quick feet. Other names include Le Hique, Tickets, and DenDen.^{[citation needed]}

Youth

Hickie was educated at

, where he completed a commerce degree. At UCD Denis was on a dual scholarship for rugby union and athletics.

Career

Hickie made his senior debut for Leinster on 6 September 1996 in a friendly match away to a Genoa President's XV and his senior Irish debut on 1 February 1997 against Wales. He earned 51 caps for Ireland, scoring 29 tries for Ireland and held the Irish try-scoring record until his friend and Leinster colleague Brian O'Driscoll broke it in 2008.

He missed out on selection to the 2001 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia. He overcame a ruptured Achilles tendon sustained during the 2003 World Cup and forced his way back into the Irish line-up, apparently losing nothing of his pace. His solid form in the 2005 Six Nations earned Hickie a call-up for the 2005 British & Irish Lions tour to New Zealand and the Leinster back became a key member of the successful midweek team.

Hickie suffered many injuries throughout his career. In October 2005, in the week coming up to the European Cup, he dislocated his right

to score in the corner. An injury to Trimble saw Hickie retake the number 11 shirt for Ireland against Australia in the 2006 Autumn tests where he scored a notable try, beating four Australian defenders with his trademark 'dancing' footwork. Making the number 11 jersey his own, and scoring two further tries in the 2007 Six Nations, Hickie was first choice left wing for the 2007 World Cup, after which he retired.

Brian O'Driscoll respectfully mentioned Denis & his contribution to Leinster Rugby in his after match interview after the final whistle in the 2009 Heineken Cup Final which Leinster won.

Hickie is a committee member of the rugby sevens club, Shamrock Warriors RFC.^[1]

Miscellaneous

A box in Dublin's popular concert venue, the Olympia Theatre, carries a nameplate "The Denis Hickie Box" as it is where he tends to watch gigs from.

Hickie proved to be a hit when he stood in for

magazine: "Unfortunately a lot of the people I seem to like are dead now. I’m a huge Elliott Smith fan and I really love Nick Drake’s stuff. Obviously, though, I won’t be seeing them in concert anytime soon."

Quotes

"I’ve always been a Leinster player. My dad played for Leinster, my uncle played for Leinster, my cousin played for Leinster. I’m a Leinster lad. I don’t make any apologies for it. That’s my team."^[3]

References

External links

• Ireland profile