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Kiwi Abroad - Former NZ under-20 captain Simon Hickey thriving in Europe

Former Auckland and Blues first five-eighth Simon Hickey is enjoying the setup at Ediburgh. (Photos/Gettys Images)

Simon Hickey is loving his time in Edinburgh and so has yet to give serious thought to whether he might return home to New Zealand at the end of his contract in 2020 or push on in Europe.

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The 24-year-old number 10 is scoring more than 10 points a game for his Guinness PRO14 club, having just started a two-season deal.

Flatting with halfback Sean Kennedy, Hickey has found the people welcoming and the city itself a nice place to live. And as a kicker, who would not want to have the manicured Murrayfield as your home patch? He doesn’t have too many problems with the accent, which is more than can be said for his two and a half seasons with French Top 14 club Bordeaux-Begles.

“I’m really enjoying it here so far. It’s a great place to live, though it was zero degrees at training this morning,” says the former Auckland and New Zealand Under 20s captain.

When RugbyPass caught up with him on the blower and asked him his thoughts about Auckland’s Mitre 10 Cup triumph, its first provincial title since Hickey was at King’s College (2007), the man himself admitted he watched it live on the box at his Parma hotel, a few hours after Zebre had defeated Edinburgh. He couldn’t sleep.

“It was some game, wasn’t it? I know from experience these victories are not easy to come by, so I was stoked to see them get over Canterbury. It was awesome rugby in tough conditions.”

The Scots are better educated on the fact that Auckland and the Blues are two different teams, but Hickey had some explaining to do in France.

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Hickey is not the sole Kiwi on the Edinburgh books. Prop Simon Berghan, Christchurch-raised, has already joined the Kilted Kiwis ranks by representing Scotland, while flanker Mungo Mason, who was born in Scotland, played for Waikato in 2016, not long out of Tauranga Boys’ College.

“Berghy is into his fourth or fifth season and going really well.

“I didn’t know him, but he’s a good guy and a good footy player too. Mungo has signed on for the Scottish sevens programme, so he could feature in a few tournaments, such as Hamilton, later in the season,” says Hickey.

New Zealanders are always intrigued about Richard Cockerill, now Edinburgh head coach, who had a running battle, on and off the field, with Norm Hewitt in 1997-98. Cockerill helped turned around the club last season, notching up 15 wins in the PRO14.

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“He’s hugely passionate and pretty up-front. You know where you stand because he’s black and white. If you don’t reach the standards he sets, he’ll let you know all about it,” says Hickey.

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He feels that Edinburgh plays best when they shift the ball and has noticed that difference from his time in Bordeaux, which played more forward-oriented rugby.

“The main difference between my experiences is the professionalism of the Edinburgh set-up.

“That might be a bit to do with the French culture, and I don’t mean to disrespect their culture because I loved my time in France – a lot of what they do is really good – but it’s a bit more laid back over there.

“At Edinburgh, they are more professional with things like S and C, recovery, physio, game plan and tactics, as much off the field as on it.”

Hickey believes he is a better all-round player, having immersed himself in European rugby, playing in three distinct competitions in a wide range of weather, stadia, and opposition. There was a perception, perhaps slightly unfair, that he was a sharpshooter off the tee who could not always set his outsides alight. His Edinburgh deal ends in June 2020. After that, who knows?

“If someone had told me a few years ago that I would play two a half years in France and now in Scotland, I wouldn’t have thought that would be the case.

“But it happened and I’m glad it happened. I’ve learned not to plan too far ahead. I’ll see where I stand in a year or so’s time, and then I might find the fire still burns to have a crack back home in New Zealand.”

For now, the focus is on Scarlets, who come to Murrayfield on Friday night. Hickey will relish catching up with his first Auckland coach, Wayne Pivac, now at the helm of Scarlets, and Wales from November 2019. That will be after Hickey has worked out how to stop Johnny McNicholl and Kieron Fonotia.

All in a day’s work for this Kiwi in Europe.

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SebastianOwen 15 minutes ago
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Bull Shark 46 minutes ago
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Jimmy Chan 1 hour ago
Don't get out over your skis on the Highlanders

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Nategift2312 1 hour ago
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0 Go to comments
J
Jimmy Chan 1 hour ago
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Just a year ago, I found myself in a financial abyss. A wrong investment decision had cost me $500,000—money that took me years to build through sweat, sacrifice, and relentless effort. It wasn’t just the loss that hurt; it was the hopelessness that followed. My business stalled, debts piled up, and the weight of my failure crushed me. I had trusted a too-good-to-be-true investment in a startup that promised high returns through speculative AI-driven trading. Blinded by optimism, I ignored red flags and poured in my entire savings. Within months, the company collapsed due to mismanagement and fraudulent activities. By the time I realized the truth, my funds were gone, and legal action seemed futile. In the midst of my despair, I stumbled upon Galaxy Ethical Tech, a rising name in ethical AI-driven financial solutions. Unlike the reckless investment schemes that had ruined me, they focused on transparency, sustainability, and responsible financial technology. Their mission was clear: leveraging AI to empower individuals ethically, not exploit them. With little to lose, I reached out to their team, expecting corporate indifference. Instead, I was met with genuine concern. A financial consultant from Galaxy Ethical Tech, Emma, walked me through their AI-driven Financial Recovery Program—a system designed to help individuals rebuild their finances through personalized investment strategies, risk analysis, and income diversification. I started small. Their AI-powered investment assistant analyzed my risk tolerance, market trends, and ethical investment opportunities that aligned with long-term sustainability and financial health. Instead of high-risk, speculative trades, it guided me toward steady, impact-driven investments—in sectors like renewable energy, ethical tech startups, and blockchain solutions with real-world utility. One of their groundbreaking features was the Galaxy Adaptive Portfolio, an AI-powered system that adjusted investments dynamically based on real-time market data, ensuring I never fell into the trap of emotional, impulsive decisions again. More importantly, their fraud detection system educated me on red flags, ensuring I never repeated my past mistakes. Beyond investments, their AI-driven freelancing and gig economy integration connected me with short-term, high-paying opportunities tailored to my expertise. Within months, I had a steady stream of income that helped me regain financial confidence. Within a year, I wasn’t just recovering—I was thriving. My portfolio had grown steadily, my debts were under control, and my financial mindset had transformed. More than just money, I had regained my self-worth, knowing I had made decisions rooted in ethics, sustainability, and intelligence. Galaxy Ethical Tech didn’t just help me recover from financial ruin—they empowered me to build a smarter, more resilient financial future. My $500,000 mistake no longer defined me. Instead, it became the foundation of a new journey—one built on wisdom, responsibility, and ethical technology. Now, as I stand on stable ground again, I share my story to remind others: financial ruin is not the end. With the right technology, the right guidance, and the right mindset, recovery is not just possible—it’s inevitable.

contact them via Email: galaxyethicaltech@mail.com Whatsapp: +15072712442 Telegram: Galaxy_ethical_tech

79 Go to comments
N
Nategift2312 1 hour ago
England explain why Marcus Smith is set for extended full-back role

i want to share to the whole world how Dr masako the Great of all the Spell Caster, that helped me reunite my marriage back, my Ex Husband broke up with me 3months ago, I have been trying to get him back ever since then, i was worried and so confused because i love him so much. I was really going too depressed, he left me with my kids and just ignored me constantly. I have begged him for forgiveness through text messages for him to come back home and the kids crying and miss their dad but he wont reply, I wanted him back desperately. we were in a very good couple and yet he just ignores me and get on with his life just like that, so i was looking for help after reading a post of Dr masako on the internet when i saw a lady name SHARRON testified that Dr masako cast a Pure love spell to stop divorce. and i also met with other, it was about how he brought back her Ex lover in less than 24 hours at the end of her testimony she dropped his email, I contacted Dr masako via email and explained my problem to Dr masako and he told me what went wrong with my husband and how it happen, that he will restored my marriage back, and to my greatest surprise my Ex husband came back to me, and he apologized for his mistake, and for the pain he caused me and my children. Then from that day our marriage is now stronger than how it was before, Dr masako you’re a real spell caster, you can also get your Ex back and live with him happily: Contact Email doctormasako@gmail.com or Legitspellcaster01@gmail.com Call/whatsapp +2349047144277 Visit his Website: https://doctormasako2.wixsite.com/drmasakospelltemple

4 Go to comments
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