Sam McNicol
{{Short description|NZ rugby union player}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=October 2019}}
{{Infobox rugby biography
| name = Sam McNicol
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| fullname = Samuel James McNicol
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1995|10|06|df=y}}
| birth_place = Feilding, New Zealand
| height = {{convert|185|cm|ftin|0|abbr=on}}
| weight = {{convert|94|kg|lb stlb|0|abbr=on}}
| school = Napier Boys' High School
| university =
| relatives =
| occupation =
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| currentclub = Chiefs, Hawke's Bay
| allblackno =
| allblackid =
| youthyears1 =
| youthclubs1 =
| years1 = 2015
| clubs1 = Hurricanes
| apps1 = 1
| points1 = 0
| years2 = 2015
| clubs2 = Wellington
| apps2 = 4
| points2 = 0
| years3 = 2016–2020
| clubs3 = Chiefs
| apps3 = 19
| points3 = 15
| years4 = 2017–2020
| clubs4 = Hawke's Bay
| apps4 = 8
| points4 = 5
| repyears1 =
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| repcaps1 =
| reppoints1 =
| clubupdate = 21 July 2022
| repupdate =
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| ru_sevensnationalcomp1 =
| ru_sevensupdate =
}}
Sam McNicol (born 6 October 1995) is a New Zealand rugby union player who played as an outside back for Wellington and {{Rut|Hawke's Bay}} in New Zealand's domestic Mitre 10 Cup and the Hurricanes and {{rut|Chiefs}} in the international Super Rugby competition.{{cite web | url=http://www.itsrugby.co.uk/player_33097.html | title=Sam McNicol itsrugby.co.uk Player Statistics | work=itsrugby.co.uk | accessdate=10 December 2016}}{{cite web | url=http://files.allblacks.com/comms/2016-ISR/2017_ISR_Squad_Naming_Chiefs-PUBLISHED-01.pdf | title=Chiefs 2017 Squad Guide | publisher=All Blacks.com | accessdate=10 December 2016}}{{cite web | url=http://www.chiefs.co.nz/team/team/player-list/player/4-Investec+Super+Rugby+2017/54-Sam+McNicol | title=Sam McNicol Chiefs Player Profile | publisher=Chiefs Rugby | accessdate=10 December 2016}}{{cite web | url=http://www.sporty.co.nz/magpies/About-Us/The-Team-1 | title=Sam McNicol Hawke's Bay Magpies Player Profile | publisher=Hawke's Bay Magpies Rugby | accessdate=10 December 2016}}
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 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.{{cite web | url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/provincial/74931970/Lions-outside-back-Sam-McNicol-makes-provincial-shift-home-to-Hawkes-Bay | title=Lions outside back Sam McNicol makes provincial shift home to Hawke's Bay | publisher=Rugby Heaven | date = 9 December 2015 | accessdate=10 December 2016}}
Super Rugby
Despite having no senior provincial rugby experience under his belt, McNicol was called into the {{Rut|Hurricanes}} wider training group during the 2015 Super Rugby season and made one appearance, against the Chiefs in New Plymouth.{{cite web | url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11463979 | title=McNicol relishing Super opportunity | work=New Zealand Herald | date = 12 June 2015 | accessdate=4 October 2015}} 2016 saw him earn his first full Super Rugby contract, this time with the Hamilton-based {{rut|Chiefs}}.{{cite web | url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/69557881/Hurricanes-lock-in-bulk-of-squad-for-2016-campaign-as-bright-future-beckons | title=Hurricanes lock in bulk of squad for 2016 campaign as bright future beckons | work=Stuff.co.nz | date = 19 June 2015 | accessdate=4 October 2015}} 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.
Super Rugby Statistics
International
McNicol was a New Zealand Schools representative in 2013.{{cite web | url=http://www.allblacks.com/Player/Schools/2333 | title=Sam McNicol NZ Schools Player Profile | publisher=All Blacks.com | accessdate=10 December 2016}}{{cite web | url=http://www.allblacks.com/News/23290/2013-nz-schools-team-named | title=2013 NZ Schools team named | publisher=All Blacks.com | date = 16 September 2013 | accessdate=10 December 2016}}
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.{{cite web | url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/news/former-chiefs-and-hurricanes-fullback-tackles-st-johns-colleges-rugby-institute-coaching-position/W4ZFTILCG4RF6B6JXZVFH7XHPY/ | title=New coach a Super lift for St John' College }}
References
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{{DEFAULTSORT:McNicol, Sam}}
Category:New Zealand rugby union players
Category:Rugby union fullbacks
Category:Wellington rugby union players
Category:Hurricanes (rugby union) players
Category:People educated at Napier Boys' High School
Category:Sportspeople from Feilding
Category:Chiefs (Super Rugby) players
Category:Hawke's Bay rugby union players