Hickie Out Of World Cup

Denis Hickie will have Alan Quinlan for company on the long flight home tomorrow, the Leinster man having sustained a ruptured Achilles tendon during Ireland’s game on Saturday. And not alone will Ireland be robbed of Hickie’s services for the remainder of this World Cup but it is believed he will also miss the rest of the season.

Ireland’s top try scorer will fly home to Dublin tomorrow (Monday) – along with Quinlan who dislocated his shoulder scoring the try against Argentina – to face surgery on his right ankle and feels he may not be ready to resume playing before the end of the season.

In his place, the Dungannon, Ulster and Lions winger Tyrone Howe is already en route to Australia to join the rest of the squad at their Melbourne camp.

The ten times Irish capped Howe who played his last Test against Wales during the pre World Cup warm up matches in August and September, was in scintillating form on Friday night scoring an 80 metre try in Ulster’s 32-7 victory over Cardiff Blues in Ravenhill.