'I Didn't Sign up to Be a Poster Boy': Treviso's Goggles-Wearing Fly-Half Ian McKinley
A team-mate’s stray boot blinded Ian McKinley in one eye and threatened to bring an early end to a promising rugby career – now he is not only playing again, but he could win a call-up to his adopted country’s national team
Ian McKinley has grown used to being called a pioneer.
The Dublin-born fly-half, who plays for Italian side Benetton Treviso in the Pro12, has been a driving force behind the development of World Rugby-approved protective goggles that allow people who suffered serious eye injuries to continue playing the game – and, in January 2017, he could add another first to an already lengthy list.
He could become the first player to take part in a match in France – the otherwise uninspiring European Challenge Cup Pool One encounter between La Rochelle and Treviso – while wearing them.
The Fédération Française de Rugby (FFR) announced in December 2016 it would overturn a long-standing law that prevented players who had lost an organ, such as an eye or a kidney, or a limb from playing. In doing so, it brought French rugby into step with the rest of Europe.
In fact, McKinley could have brought the end of the ban forward a few days. He was on the bench for Treviso’s Challenge Cup visit to Bayonne after receiving special dispensation to play a week or so before the announcement by new FFR president Bernard Laporte’s steering committee. But he was not called on by his coaches.
He is now looking forward to being selected for the La Rochelle trip at the end of January, and described the FFR’s decision as “another important moment for the goggles project and for anyone with any eye problems who wants to play rugby.”
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McKinley – along with former Perpignan scrum-half Florian Cazanave, who now plays in Italian rugby’s second tier after losing an eye in an accident – has become a reluctant hero for people with eye problems who want to play rugby.
I didn’t sign up to be a poster boy,” he said. “But when you’re the first to do things – the first to play in Ireland, to play for the Barbarians, to play in England, to play in France, in European competitions and leagues like the Pro 12 with goggles – you’re bound to be put in the spotlight. These are big landmarks.
“I want people to look beyond the goggles – that goes for coaches as well. I think they do: if I make a mistake I get the same treatment as other players. If I do something well, I get the same praise.”
In 2010 McKinley on an academy contract with Leinster, playing for University College Dublin against Lansdowne, when the then 19-year-old found himself at the bottom of a ruck. “I took the ball into contact. I found myself on my back for a split second, and in that split second one of my team-mates studded my eye and perforated my eyeball.”
He was operated on that night. “I was told originally I would need a minimum of a year to recover before I could contemplate going back to rugby. I was back playing after six months.”
It seemed surgeons had saved his eye and his career. He made his full Leinster debut in 2011, ironically against Treviso. But the situation worsened. He said: “I played a game the day after Leinster won the Heineken Cup and my vision was bad. I had developed two cataracts which required two lengthy operations – and the trauma from the injury and the operations meant my retina just could not take any more. It detached almost completely.”
He retired from playing, but was given a rugby lifeline when offered the chance to take up coaching in Italy. The idea of the goggles was born in 2013 when his brother visited and saw how low McKinley was. A student at the National College Art and Design in Dublin was persuaded to give up his final-year project and design a pair of protective glasses so McKinley could play again.
He is modest about his influence on the events that followed: “World Rugby were also coming up with a project at the same time. The two sides, us and them, coincided – and the goggles ‘came into existence’ in January 2014.”
After three years’ injury-enforced retirement, his return to playing was deliberately and understandably low key. His first games were for Serie A side Leonorso. But, as his confidence returned, so did the dormant ability and awareness that won him a professional contract.
He moved first to Viadana, and has since played for both Italian Pro12 sides Zebre and Treviso. This year, he returned to Dublin for the first time as a player since 2011.
“I had played against Leinster for Zebre in Italy. This was a different feeling. I got a very good reception when I came on. I’m still a bit peeved because we lost the game – it was there to be won. There was less than 10 points in it when I came on, with 20 minutes to go and we shipped a try, which killed the game off. It finished 20-8 – but it was there to be won.
“I’m sure it’s something I’ll look back on in years to come with a warm heart, but when you’re paid to do a job and that’s your profession and you don’t get it done, it’s a bitter pill to swallow.”
The Italian adventure is a long way from over for McKinley. In January, he qualifies to play for Italy, but is humble about his chances of getting a game, saying national coach and countryman Conor O’Shea has not been in touch. “They seem to be doing alright. They beat South Africa,” he said.
“You’d be crazy not to want to play international rugby. Every player wants to play to their potential.
“I haven’t thought about it much because since my debut in 2009 to the start of this campaign, I’ve played 10 Pro 12 games – one and a bit a year. I need consistency, minutes and games.
“I’ve been involved in the matchday squad for Treviso in every game this year, so I’m just happy to do that and contribute to the team. Whatever happens, happens – but I’ve got to make sure my performance level is good enough to warrant consideration from anywhere else. That’s all I can focus on.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Thanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
11 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
9 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
11 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
9 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
6 Go to comments