IRISH BACK ROW prospect Will Hickey is set to pursue a professional rugby career in Wales with the Ospreys.
The42 understands that the former Ireland Schools international is set to sign a deal with the Welsh Pro14 side after missing out on a place in the Leinster system.
Hickey – who plays at number eight or blindside flanker – was a starter for St Michael’s College as they won the 2019 Leinster Schools Senior Cup and then captained the Dublin school in last year’s competition.
He helped the Leinster U18s to inter-pro success and did the same with the Leinster U19s, captaining that side from number eight.
Hickey represented Ireland the U18 Schools team in 2019 and was part of the Ireland U19 set-up last year, only for their schedule to be cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Despite featuring for Leinster A as recently as December, it’s understood that Hickey missed out on a place in Leinster’s academy system for this season.
However, the Ospreys were aware of his potential through his performances in the Leinster Schools Senior Cup and Hickey is now set to join the Welsh region.
Former Ireland U20s and Lansdowne boss Mike Ruddock is now in charge of the Ospreys’ development pathway as the region’s ‘development director.’
It’s not thought that Hickey is Welsh-qualified at present, meaning he would require five years of residency there if Wales did eventually wish to cap him.
Young Irish players going abroad to pursue professional careers hasn’t traditionally been a common route but there have been a handful of recent examples.
21-year-old Cork man Eoghan Barrett joined Pau back in 2018 after missing out on the Munster academy and is now enjoying a major breakthrough season. The former Ireland U19 wing recently scored his first Top 14 try.
Billy Scannell, the 21-year-old brother of Munster players Niall and Rory, has been on the books at Biarritz since 2019. The ex-Ireland U20 hooker made his Pro D2 debut last season.
The Sport Ireland statement is a strange one “he bore no significant fault or negligence”- While I’d doubt he intentionally took the substance it was most definitely negligent not to check with the team nutritionist if the substance was legal or not
Brendan O Sullivan got off lightly. Would the sports council have been so lenient if he was an athlete or cyclist.
No one forced O Sullivan to take the illegal supplement. It was the height of stupidly not to check with the team doctor.
As for Marc O Se to say he was unaware of O Sullivan’s use of an illegal supplement. Did he never ask where’s Brendan?
@Diarmuid: the banned substance was not in a supplement but in a sports drink, similar to Lucozade sport. That’s why he got off so lightly
Kimmage will be all over this like a rash. “Now hang on Joe! This is important!”
@Marks Awarded: he was on the same time as O Se and you’re correct. That’s exactly how it went
OSullivan had no idea what he took, it was in a drink. I believe that.
What I dont believe is Marc O’Se saying he had no idea, thats bullsh!t.
But fair play to the Kerry boys for closing ranks and keeping this quite. Best of luck to anyone who can beat these, that sort of loyalty and respect is hard to beat!!
Imagine if this was Diarmuid Connolly or another Dublin player.. Ud have fools tarnishing they’re All Ireland wins .. If its Kerry its ok just a mistake
Kerry didn’t win an AIl Ireland last year.