John was a local Canton lad who attended St Mary's Catholic Primary School. In the 1960-61 season he joined Canton RFC via Llandaff Youth and was part of the successful Canton team that won the C & D Sevens Tournament. He joined Cardiff RFC in season 1963-64 and went on to play for 12 seasons where his hard, combative skills was used to great effect.

On 5th November 1966, the Blue & Blacks recorded a famous victory in beating the touring Australians 14-8 at Cardiff Arms Park. That day, John's contribution also included leaving his mark on the great Wallaby scrum-half Ken Catchpole. "He was always an aggressive blindside flanker who never took a backward step." (Ref.http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/tributes-cardiff-rfc-legend-john-8988525)

"Another Cardiff player, John Hickey, gave me the impression during my brief time with the club that if I didn't put the boot into the opposition, he'd put it into me." (Ref. The Iron Duke:Bobby Windsor - The Life & Times of a Working-Class Hero - Publisher Random House, 2011).

Early in 1967, John was selected for the Wales Possibles v Probables, as John Taylor recounts:-
"They were peculiar games. The only thing the Possibles could offer was fire and brimstone so the trials were usually pretty fiery. Fortunately, I had John Hickey and Tony Pender, two excellent Cardiff back-row forwards with me. They were pretty physical and we really disrupted the Probables in the first half. I made a try and we went in to half-time in the lead - unheard of." (Ref. http://en.espn.co.uk/scrum/rugby/story/227271.html)

John played in the East Wales team that drew 3-3 with the New Zealand tourists at Cardiff Arms Park on 13th December 1967:-
“…we completely outplayed them and should have won it. For a long time we led 3-0 and it didn't look for a moment like they were going to score. At one stage the All Blacks were trying to summon a bit of energy, and one of them shouted out loud: "Come on boys, we've got them on the run here." And John Hickey, in no uncertain terms, said: "You have got to be joking!" He used a few expletives as well. The look on his face was an absolute picture” - Gareth Jenkins (Ref. https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2009/dec/12/east-wales-new-zealand-1967).

On Saturday 18th January 1969, John was again selected for the Wales possibles versus probables.