One of European and world rugby's most elusive wingers, DENIS HICKIE is hitting form at just the right time for Ireland with four tries in his last seven outings.
The former schoolboy sprinter, who was educated at St. Mary's College and UCD, boasts an excellent strike rate of 29 tries in 58 games as a joint-holder, with Brian O'Driscoll, of the Irish try-scoring record. He also boasts an impressive 59 tries in 130 appearances for Leinster.
A Triple Crown winner with the Ireland Schools (1993), Under-21s (1996) and senior side (2004 and 2007), a fresh-faced Hickie scored on his full Ireland debut against Wales in 1997. His 2003 World Cup ended prematurely with a ruptured Achilles tendon. In the summer of 2005, he toured New Zealand with the British & Irish Lions.
Due to injury and a loss of form, he spent a good while out of the international reckoning - there was a gap of 19 months between his 51st and 52nd Test caps.
But he returned in cracking form with tries against Australia and the Pacific Islanders and he grabbed a brace in Ireland's Six Nations win over Italy last March. The fortchoming World Cup will be his last international tournament as Hickie announced that he will retire from the professional game after France 2007.
