DUBLIN-BORN ITALIAN international Ian McKinley is one of eight players who will leave Pro14 club Benetton Rugby when the current season comes to an end.
The 30-year-old out-half moved to Italy in 2013 to pursue a career in professional rugby when a devastating eye injury while playing with UCD forced his initial retirement in 2012.
Benetton, based in northern Italy where the Covid-19 outbreak hit so hard earlier this year, say that, on a case by case basis, some of the released players may feature again for the team if the 2019/20 season resumes.
Dean Budd, Tito Tebaldi and Marco Fuser are also among those headed for the exit door. Alessandro Zanni will retire from the game and to take up a role on the coaching staff.
The full list of players ending their time with Benetton are: Dean Budd, Marco Fuser, Engiel Makelara, Nasi Manu, Ian McKinley, Antonio Rizzi, Tito Tebaldi, Alessandro Zanni,
“Sorry to have to say goodbye like this,” said president Amerino Zatta in a statement, “at the end of a season interrupted due to the difficult situation we are going through, but I wish everyone the best for a future full of satisfactions “
And Iam one of them.. from Aherlow to Madrid Harps!!
That’s the legacy of Fianna Fáil and you still will get idiots that will vote for them
Colm Keaveny says they have changed….surly he couldn’t be wrong
Of course they will, because their TD’s great-grand-uncle 14 times’ removed handed DeV a glass of water in Boland’s Mill when he asked for a drink. Ironic really seeing as we replaced one monarchy with another…
Green Thumb.
It’s sad to hear but money pays the bills not playing GAA.
If these guys played for Dublin there would be alot more help available to them…. Anyone else… On your bike lads…!
Sad sign of the times. Our club were county champions 2 years ago, of the 30 on the panel 16 have left as no work in the area and 14 of those have left the country.
What? What club is that
Ahhhhhhhh come on…….
any of the 600 gone wouldn’t have stopped Clare winning the all Ireland this year….
Ridiculous statement!
Clare ha..one back door all ireland in near twenty year and cocky all ready eh. Not even munster champs…roll on next year.
Yea can’t wait back to back all Irelands
Incredible that they only went to U.K. ,U.S. and Australia. 100%.
It was a very narrow-minded group of people.
And where did you go to Dave? North Korea? Iraq? Afghanistan?
Spoddgy you left out Limerick
I am in Budapest. 8 years. Why?
They may end up joining their armies and end up in Iraq and Afghanistan anyway.
Why not got to Canada, Germany, New Zealand, The EUA or anywhere in Scandinavia? They all speak English if that is their problem.
Listen? Hear it? That’s the yawning sound of ignorance. Mark it well because it is often disguised as informed opinion.
600 new club members in Dublin gaa?!
Ever hear a tipp man speaking English …. Ha ha ha here comes the red thumbs…
Anyone who has been to Tipperary will know that emigration is better than a life stuck there, coming from someone who lives here and will be leaving soon.
You will be a major loss… Hope the rest of us can manage without you in the premier county!
No worries, plenty have arrived to take their places.
Ya mary, more like a spent force!
Kilkenny on the way back, in force !
The Tipp crowd are no good
GOOD.
Is that all? Lucky they still have 500+ Most counties would be lucky to have 50