Sam McNicol

Sam McNicol is a New Zealand rugby union player who played as an outside back for Wellington and in New Zealand's domestic Mitre 10 Cup and the Hurricanes and in the international Super Rugby competition.

Early career

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].

Senior career

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 [Mitre 10 Cup|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.

Super Rugby

Despite having no senior provincial rugby experience under his belt, McNicol was called into the wider training group during the 2015 Super Rugby season and made one appearance, against the Chiefs in New Plymouth. 2016 saw him earn his first full Super Rugby contract, this time with the Hamilton-based. 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.

International

McNicol was a New Zealand national [schoolboy rugby union team|New Zealand Schools] representative in 2013.

Post rugby playing career

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.