Denis Joseph Hickie (12 April 1943 – 26 December 2021) was an Irish rugby union player. He played as a number 8 for St. Mary's College, Leinster and Ireland.
| Birth name | Denis Joseph Hickie | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | 12 April 1943 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Dublin, Ireland | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of death | 26 December 2021 (aged 78) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of death | Dublin, Ireland | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | St. Mary's College, Dublin | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Career
editHickie, along with his brother Tony, played on the first team from St Mary's College to win the Leinster Schools Rugby Senior Cup in 1961 and they were also part of a successful era for the St. Mary's R.F.C. teams during the 1970s. Hickie captained St Mary's for three seasons and played on three Leinster Senior Cup-winning teams.[1] He was also part of the 1975 team that won the Club Championship of Ireland, to celebrate the IRFU’s 100th anniversary. A career which featured 23 caps for Leinster and one cap for the Barbarians (1972), Hickie became one of the first St Mary's RFC players to be capped for Ireland. He won six caps throughout 1971 and 1972.[2][3]
Personal life and death
editHis son, Gavin Hickie, played with St Mary's and for Leinster during the Matt Williams era. His nephew, also Denis, played with Leinster for 12 seasons, Ireland and the British and Irish Lions.
Hickie died after a long period of ill health and dementia on 26 December 2021.[4]
Honours
edit- St Mary's College
- St Mary's College RFC
- Leinster Senior Cup: 1969, 1971, 1974
References
edit- ^ "Denis J Hickie, the former Ireland player passes away". The Irish Post. 31 December 2021. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
- ^ "Obituary: Denis Hickie, inspirational Leinster and Ireland rugby colossus who always led by example". Irish Independent. 2 January 2022. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
- ^ "Stuffed with leaders, we won a match of absolute enjoyment". Irish Independent. 19 March 2000. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
- ^ "Former Ireland player Denis J Hickie passes away". Irish Times. 30 December 2021. Retrieved 2 January 2022.