Sam McNicol

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Sam McNicol
Full nameSamuel James McNicol
Date of birth (1995-10-06) 6 October 1995 (age 28)
Place of birthFeilding, New Zealand
Height185 cm (6 ft 1 in)
Weight94 kg (207 lb; 14 st 11 lb)
SchoolNapier Boys' High School
Rugby union career
Position(s) Wing, Centre
Current team Chiefs, Hawke's Bay
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2015 Hurricanes 1 (0)
2015 Wellington 4 (0)
2016–2020 Chiefs 19 (15)
2017–2020 Hawke's Bay 8 (5)
Correct as of 21 July 2022

Sam McNicol (born 6 October 1995) is a New Zealand rugby union player who played as an outside back for Wellington and Hawke's Bay in New Zealand's domestic Mitre 10 Cup and the Hurricanes and Chiefs in the international Super Rugby competition.[1][2][3][4]

Early career[edit]

Born in Feilding in New Zealand's Manawatū District, McNicol attended school further north in the town of Napier where he played first XV rugby for the local Napier Boys' High School.[3]

Senior career[edit]

Originally named in the Wellington Lions squad for the 2014 ITM Cup, the then 19-year old McNicol didn't get any game time due to having to undergo double hip surgery and had to wait until the following year to make his provincial debut. A fractured eye-socket limited him to just 4 appearances during what was to prove to be his final season in Wellington.

He moved back to Napier in 2016 to join newly promoted Mitre 10 Cup Premiership side, the Hawke's Bay Magpies. Unfortunately, injury struck again and he was forced to miss the entire season as his new club slipped to relegation back to the Championship for 2017.[1][3][5]

Super Rugby[edit]

Despite having no senior provincial rugby experience under his belt, McNicol was called into the Hurricanes wider training group during the 2015 Super Rugby season and made one appearance, against the Chiefs in New Plymouth.[6] 2016 saw him earn his first full Super Rugby contract, this time with the Hamilton-based Chiefs.[7] He scored 2 tries in 11 appearances in his first season with the Chiefs and despite injuries holding him back once more in domestic rugby, he was retained in the squad for 2017 and 2018.[1][2]

Super Rugby Statistics[edit]

As of 10 December 2016[1]
Season Team Games Starts Sub Mins Tries Cons Pens Drops Points Yel Red
2015 Hurricanes 1 0 1 50 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2016 Chiefs 11 6 5 514 2 0 0 0 10 0 0
Total 12 6 6 564 2 0 0 0 10 0 0

International[edit]

McNicol was a New Zealand Schools representative in 2013.[8][9]

Post rugby playing career[edit]

In 2022 it was announced that McNicol would take up the role of rugby institute coach at St John's College, Hastings. He was also a Hawke's Bay Rugby Union secondary schools rugby development officer.[10]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d "Sam McNicol itsrugby.co.uk Player Statistics". itsrugby.co.uk. Retrieved 10 December 2016.
  2. ^ a b "Chiefs 2017 Squad Guide" (PDF). All Blacks.com. Retrieved 10 December 2016.
  3. ^ a b c "Sam McNicol Chiefs Player Profile". Chiefs Rugby. Retrieved 10 December 2016.
  4. ^ "Sam McNicol Hawke's Bay Magpies Player Profile". Hawke's Bay Magpies Rugby. Retrieved 10 December 2016.
  5. ^ "Lions outside back Sam McNicol makes provincial shift home to Hawke's Bay". Rugby Heaven. 9 December 2015. Retrieved 10 December 2016.
  6. ^ "McNicol relishing Super opportunity". New Zealand Herald. 12 June 2015. Retrieved 4 October 2015.
  7. ^ "Hurricanes lock in bulk of squad for 2016 campaign as bright future beckons". Stuff.co.nz. 19 June 2015. Retrieved 4 October 2015.
  8. ^ "Sam McNicol NZ Schools Player Profile". All Blacks.com. Retrieved 10 December 2016.
  9. ^ "2013 NZ Schools team named". All Blacks.com. 16 September 2013. Retrieved 10 December 2016.
  10. ^ "New coach a Super lift for St John' College".