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Scotland hooker Stuart McInally has confirmed his retirement

By PA
(Photo by Ross MacDonald/SNS Group via Getty Images)

Scotland international Stuart McInally will soon be flying high when he hangs up his boots in November to pursue a career as a commercial airline pilot. The 32-year-old Edinburgh hooker will call time on his career when his contract ends later this year to earn his wings in professional aviation, with McInally already holding a private pilot’s license.

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He joined Edinburgh’s academy in 2009 and made his professional debut against Munster in 2010, making his 176th appearance for the club in Saturday’s emphatic victory against Ospreys.

The former Scotland and Edinburgh captain will wear the castle on his chest for the last time this Friday night against Ulster at Kingspan Stadium and it remains to be seen if he will be included in Gregor Townsend’s squad for the World Cup in France this autumn.

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McInally said: “It was really tough knowing this was the moment to move on. I always thought it would be really easy to retire because I’ve always known what I want to do after rugby – become a pilot – but stepping away from the club I love is massive and it’s been a huge decision.

“However, I feel ready and this is such an exciting opportunity. I drive under a flight path every morning on my journey into BT Murrayfield and so often see planes landing at Edinburgh Airport.

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“I start to think, ‘What is the pilot seeing? How are they adapting?’ – and that itself gets me excited for the next steps in my career. While I’m obviously sad to be moving on, this decision has really been 10 years in the making. I started flying back in 2013 and a lot of work has gone in to get to this point. I’m now massively excited to pursue a career as a commercial airline pilot.”

McInally is currently sixth on the club’s all-time appearance list, behind only Allan Jacobsen (273), Chris Paterson (205), Ross Ford (199), Grant Gilchrist (188) and WP Nel (186).

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Edinburgh head coach Mike Blair described McInally as the “definition of a complete professional”, saying: “Stuart is a club legend and he’ll go down as one of Edinburgh Rugby’s most celebrated players because of his commitment to the jersey and dedication to being the best player he can possibly be for his boyhood team.

“Stuart commands respect across the club because of the way he carries himself as both a professional rugby player and a man. There isn’t a training session he won’t give 110 per cent to, or a meeting he won’t fully prepare for – he’s the definition of a complete professional and his team-mates look up to him because of his leadership.

“Stuart will soon move on to a new career as a pilot and I’ve got no doubts he’ll be a success in that too. I’ve seen first-hand how dedicated he was when switching from back-row to hooker.

“He is completely driven to achieve his dreams and that’s exactly what he’s done during his time with Edinburgh and Scotland in over a decade of service to the sport.”

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JW 3 hours ago
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That’s what overtime is for, two get more intense and suspenseful play. Like I said previously, weve missed out on a lot of golden point games so far this season, but this one delivered 10 minutes of great rugby to make up for it.

“But I’d like to kick off again after the boys defended on the line, to kick off, put them in the corner and go again.”

Is he proposing the second half of overtime, or a NFL type system when you get your chance (even if you score), and then they get theirs?


Hurricanes scored first so got to chose to kick off right? They had position but the Force were great at recycling and the Canes D was no longer pressuring, choosing to play it safe or to conserve energy, which I don’t know but the Force slowly ate into that territory and were at the 22 after about 5 minutes with the ball. That’s when the D started feeling the need to up the tempo. They turned it over and looked like they might make a break that would go all the way. Instead they also only got to the 22 before it became a grind again, this time getting all the way to the line only to blow it.


That is basically how a more refined system would have played out anyway. If the Force had of scored then the Canes would have had that attempt. 10 minutes is certainly enough, was in this game. It’s hard to imagine a slow stogy team, who try to play tactically and kick the ball away and benefit from two 10 halfs, actually even get that far. The team that was going for it to score the golden point would generally win. 10 minutes looks good, it means we get the rugby were after by having a golden point. Remember it’s not to finding a winner, it’s entertainment, no playing it safe and wanting 20 minutes to do it. Having a second chance, if not a pure tit for tat system, would hopefully be in for the finals.

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