[citation needed] Hickie was educated at St Marys College in Rathmines and led them to the Leinster Schools Senior Cup title in 1994.

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.

This injury kept him out of the 2005 autumn international series and he subsequently lost his place on the Irish team to Ulster's Andrew Trimble for the duration of 2006, despite his excellent form for Leinster.

This was best captured in his try in Leinster's Heineken Cup quarter-final match against Toulouse in France which saw him run the length of the pitch partnered by Gordon D'Arcy 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.