McKinley made his Zebre debut two weeks ago against the Scarlets. Stefano Fagnani
Stefano Fagnani
OFFICIALLY, IAN MCKINLEY can play for Zebre against Connacht tomorrow night, but his protective goggles can’t come onto the pitch with him.
But when you’ve already lost sight in one eye and been gouged multiple times in the other, it’s scant consolation to know you can only play without the piece of equipment that gave you your career back.
Instead, McKinley will tog out for his club Viadana in the Italian Eccellenze League. He’ll wear his protective goggles, which haven’t provided an injury to him or any of the other 525 players wearing them worldwide during their 22-month trial.
In Ireland though, they’re banned, something the Dubliner is striving to change.
You may or may not know the story of Ian McKinley.
For those that don’t, he’s a former Ireland U20 and Leinster out-half who retired from the game in 2011 aged 21. He lost the sight in his left eye after catching the stud of a teammate during an AIL game for his club UCD against Lansdowne in 2010.
When he returned to the game six months later, two attempted gouges to his fully-working eye was enough for him to quit the game he’d spent the best part of his life trying to forge a career in.
But after spending time coaching in Italy, he was offered a lifeline back into the game in 2014 when World Rugby agreed to trial the protective goggles he helped design. His first game back was in the Italian third division for Leonorso, scoring 28 points, two years since he’d hung up his boots.
He was then signed by Viadana, one of the top sides in the Italian Eccellenze League, before being called up to Pro12 side Zebre in September as a short-term signing, playing in their Pro12 defeat to the Scarlets two weeks ago, four years after his last appearance in the competition.
But with the IRFU being one of just three of the major rugby unions refusing to take part in the trial, McKinley can’t feature for the Italians in any games inside the IRFU’s jurisdiction, the first of which is tomorrow night against Connacht in Galway.
That’s something he’s determined to change.
He’s begun petitioning the IRFU and World Rugby to rule in favour of the goggles, which have not recorded a single injury worldwide in their near-two year trial.
“We feel nearly two years into the trial, more than 500 people using the goggles, including myself playing at the highest level in Italy, the wait has been too long and that’s why we’re putting pressure on the IRFU and World Rugby to get this done,” he tells The42.
The IRFU cite safety as the issue with his protective goggles. It was a major talking point during the summer, when Coleraine seven-year-old Ryan Totten was told he couldn’t play mini-rugby because his goggles weren’t permitted by the union.
McKinley says he has been in contact with many players and families in a similar situation to Ryan, but the IRFU are refusing to change their stance.
“As it stands I could play a game. If I wanted to I could have played the game tomorrow evening, without any goggles and risk another injury to my one remaining eye.
“They won’t insure me to use the protective goggle which have been provided by World Rugby.
“It’s difficult for someone who’s been brought up under the Leinster system since I was 15, and then under the IRFU umbrella. To not be permitted to play a professional game and ultimately not be able to fulfil my potential livelihood, is very frustrating.
“I wrote to the IRFU stating my case for the game and was written back in black and white that they refused because they were not partaking in the trial, so that’s why the campaign has come to a head.
“There’s no reason why not, because for me personally, 36 games played and 25 of those have been professional games. No incidents have happened. They haven’t fallen off, they haven’t cracked, no other player has complained before or after games that the goggles have hurt them.”
McKinley scores a try for Leinster against Treviso in 2011. Ryan Byrne / INPHO
Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO
While McKinley says his short-term deal with Zebre is a huge step for him in his return to rugby, he says that the fact that they can only be worn in the jurisdiction of particular unions has resulted him missing out on multiple long-term contract offers.
And his campaign says that his inability to play rugby in Ireland contradicts the Irish Constitution and the European Convention on Human Rights.
“Even last year I had interest from Zebre and Treviso but they were not willing to commit to me because I could not play certain games. My point has always been I can play 18 of the 22 games, but that’s not good enough to be considered as a player for them.
“I can’t fulfil my livelihood. I have it written in black and white that those teams wanted to sign me but had to go for other players because I couldn’t compete in these games.”
As one of the few professionals wearing the goggles and an active part in the development of the product, the 25-year-old has taken it upon himself to fight for the technology to be ratified by the IRFU.
And he’s confident that with enough support he can make it happen.
“I’m just someone that wanted to do the best I can. Unfortunately I was dealt this little blow, but I’ve got a huge amount of determination and a huge amount if time to make up.
“If two years ago I told people I’d be playing in the Pro12 with goggles, nobody would have believed me, but myself and my family, my support, my girlfriend, they’re the ones who believed.
“I looked a bit different but I played the same and my objective is to be better and I think I am getting better.”
Ian McKinley’s campaign is calling for the IRFU to immediately sign up to the goggles trial, and for World Rugby to permit players under all domestic unions to allow them to be worn.
'I can't fulfil my livelihood' - Ian McKinley is petitioning the IRFU to allow protective goggles
OFFICIALLY, IAN MCKINLEY can play for Zebre against Connacht tomorrow night, but his protective goggles can’t come onto the pitch with him.
But when you’ve already lost sight in one eye and been gouged multiple times in the other, it’s scant consolation to know you can only play without the piece of equipment that gave you your career back.
Instead, McKinley will tog out for his club Viadana in the Italian Eccellenze League. He’ll wear his protective goggles, which haven’t provided an injury to him or any of the other 525 players wearing them worldwide during their 22-month trial.
In Ireland though, they’re banned, something the Dubliner is striving to change.
You may or may not know the story of Ian McKinley.
For those that don’t, he’s a former Ireland U20 and Leinster out-half who retired from the game in 2011 aged 21. He lost the sight in his left eye after catching the stud of a teammate during an AIL game for his club UCD against Lansdowne in 2010.
When he returned to the game six months later, two attempted gouges to his fully-working eye was enough for him to quit the game he’d spent the best part of his life trying to forge a career in.
But after spending time coaching in Italy, he was offered a lifeline back into the game in 2014 when World Rugby agreed to trial the protective goggles he helped design. His first game back was in the Italian third division for Leonorso, scoring 28 points, two years since he’d hung up his boots.
He was then signed by Viadana, one of the top sides in the Italian Eccellenze League, before being called up to Pro12 side Zebre in September as a short-term signing, playing in their Pro12 defeat to the Scarlets two weeks ago, four years after his last appearance in the competition.
But with the IRFU being one of just three of the major rugby unions refusing to take part in the trial, McKinley can’t feature for the Italians in any games inside the IRFU’s jurisdiction, the first of which is tomorrow night against Connacht in Galway.
That’s something he’s determined to change.
He’s begun petitioning the IRFU and World Rugby to rule in favour of the goggles, which have not recorded a single injury worldwide in their near-two year trial.
The IRFU cite safety as the issue with his protective goggles. It was a major talking point during the summer, when Coleraine seven-year-old Ryan Totten was told he couldn’t play mini-rugby because his goggles weren’t permitted by the union.
McKinley says he has been in contact with many players and families in a similar situation to Ryan, but the IRFU are refusing to change their stance.
“As it stands I could play a game. If I wanted to I could have played the game tomorrow evening, without any goggles and risk another injury to my one remaining eye.
“They won’t insure me to use the protective goggle which have been provided by World Rugby.
“I wrote to the IRFU stating my case for the game and was written back in black and white that they refused because they were not partaking in the trial, so that’s why the campaign has come to a head.
“There’s no reason why not, because for me personally, 36 games played and 25 of those have been professional games. No incidents have happened. They haven’t fallen off, they haven’t cracked, no other player has complained before or after games that the goggles have hurt them.”
While McKinley says his short-term deal with Zebre is a huge step for him in his return to rugby, he says that the fact that they can only be worn in the jurisdiction of particular unions has resulted him missing out on multiple long-term contract offers.
And his campaign says that his inability to play rugby in Ireland contradicts the Irish Constitution and the European Convention on Human Rights.
“I can’t fulfil my livelihood. I have it written in black and white that those teams wanted to sign me but had to go for other players because I couldn’t compete in these games.”
As one of the few professionals wearing the goggles and an active part in the development of the product, the 25-year-old has taken it upon himself to fight for the technology to be ratified by the IRFU.
And he’s confident that with enough support he can make it happen.
“If two years ago I told people I’d be playing in the Pro12 with goggles, nobody would have believed me, but myself and my family, my support, my girlfriend, they’re the ones who believed.
“I looked a bit different but I played the same and my objective is to be better and I think I am getting better.”
Ian McKinley’s campaign is calling for the IRFU to immediately sign up to the goggles trial, and for World Rugby to permit players under all domestic unions to allow them to be worn.
You can support his petition here.
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Guinness PRO12 demanding change Ian McKinley Petition Zebre