[2] Hickey attended Saint Kentigern College and is the older brother of Blues first five-eighths Simon.
Hickey was then held back by a few injuries and missed opportunities in recent seasons to make his List A debut for the Northern Districts.
He overcame that in style, coming into the Ford Trophy side with great zest and punching out vital half-centuries under pressure.
Hickey eventually made his First-class debut with side against Auckland during the 2013–14 Plunket Shield season.
With his injury and COVID 19 restrictions in Auckland his opportunities to continue his rugby were limited until he received a call to play for the Otago team in the 2020 Mitre 10 Cup.