Gavin Hickie

Gavin Hickie is the Head Coach and Director of Rugby for the United States Naval Academy. Hickie led the Midshipmen to their first ever National Championship win in 2023. The Navy rugby team went undefeated throughout the season, culminating in an 18-0 record. Gavin is a professional rugby coach and author of the rugby coaching book, Rugby Revealed.

Hickie was the head coach of the Dartmouth College rugby team 2012 to 2017, following the departure of former Dartmouth head coach Alex Magleby to coach the US national rugby sevens team. Formerly, Hickie was the forwards coach of Belmont Shore Rugby Club, and the head coach of Wilson High School, Long Beach, California. He was the assistant coach for USA U20s in when they won the World Rugby Junior World Trophy title in 2012 and again in the World Rugby Junior World Championship 2013, before going on to be the head coach of the USA Rugby Collegiate All-Americans from 2015-2017.

Hickie is a rugby analyst and writer, contributing frequently to rugby websites, newspapers, magazines, podcasts and radio shows, including an appearances CNN, the Stu, Tiffany & Jimbo Show on KCAL-FM and NPR's All Things Considered Show He has previously written for RugbyToday, The Rugby Site and his own website, Rugby Revealed.

In September 2015 Hickie became an author, when Bloomsbury Publishing published his book Rugby Revealed. Written with co-author Eilidh Donaldson, Rugby Revealed features advice from over 100 top players and coaches in the professional game. Rugby Revealed is currently one of the best-selling rugby books on Amazon.com.

A portion of the proceeds of the sale of Rugby Revealed goes to the Barbarians Rugby Charitable Trust.

Playing career
Hickie was educated in St Marys College and University College Dublin and went on to play for Ireland Schools, U19, U21, A Level and 7's. He made his debut for Ireland A in the 70th minute of 55–22 victory over Wales A on 2 February 2002.

Hickie played as a hooker and played professional rugby for Leinster, helping them win the inaugural Celtic League in 2001. Hickie went on to play for the London Irish RFC and Worcester Warriors. Hickie played with the Leicester Tigers helping the team win the Guinness Premiership in 2007. He suffered a number of injuries and after a tackle on Jason Robinson resulted in ruptures to his infraspinatus and supraspinatus shoulder muscles his professional playing career was effectively over.

Hickie captained Ireland 7's and represented Leicester Tigers and St. Mary's College in 7's rugby.

Hickie also played rugby in the United States with Belmont Shore RFC in the Rugby Super League (US).

Personal
Hickie is the son of former Irish international rugby player Denis J. Hickie and first cousin to former professional rugby player Denis Hickie.

Gavin Hickie is a dual citizen of Ireland and the United States of America.

Hickie lives in Annapolis, MD with his wife and children.