Advertisement
McKinley on Italy duty against Ireland last year. James Crombie/INPHO

Ian McKinley among 8 players ready for Benetton exit

The Italian club may well field some of the players released again if the 2019/20 season is to resume.

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 “

Close
14 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Danny Mike Hennessy
    Favourite Danny Mike Hennessy
    Report
    Dec 3rd 2013, 7:37 PM

    And Iam one of them.. from Aherlow to Madrid Harps!!

    198
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Felicia Spells
    Favourite Felicia Spells
    Report
    Dec 3rd 2013, 9:58 PM

    That’s the legacy of Fianna Fáil and you still will get idiots that will vote for them

    187
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Steve M
    Favourite Steve M
    Report
    Dec 3rd 2013, 9:59 PM

    Colm Keaveny says they have changed….surly he couldn’t be wrong

    92
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jack Strong
    Favourite Jack Strong
    Report
    Dec 3rd 2013, 10:21 PM

    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…

    62
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Fong Wannapho
    Favourite Fong Wannapho
    Report
    Dec 3rd 2013, 10:27 PM

    Green Thumb.

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute joe o'reilly
    Favourite joe o'reilly
    Report
    Dec 3rd 2013, 11:14 PM

    It’s sad to hear but money pays the bills not playing GAA.

    62
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Plucky Duck
    Favourite Plucky Duck
    Report
    Dec 4th 2013, 11:59 AM

    If these guys played for Dublin there would be alot more help available to them…. Anyone else… On your bike lads…!

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute YourAuldLady
    Favourite YourAuldLady
    Report
    Dec 3rd 2013, 9:57 PM

    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.

    59
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Lad
    Favourite Lad
    Report
    Dec 3rd 2013, 10:02 PM

    What? What club is that

    17
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Kevin Beakey
    Favourite Kevin Beakey
    Report
    Dec 3rd 2013, 8:24 PM

    Ahhhhhhhh come on…….
    any of the 600 gone wouldn’t have stopped Clare winning the all Ireland this year….

    58
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tomás Tiernan
    Favourite Tomás Tiernan
    Report
    Dec 3rd 2013, 9:17 PM

    Ridiculous statement!

    97
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul White
    Favourite Paul White
    Report
    Dec 4th 2013, 10:12 AM

    Clare ha..one back door all ireland in near twenty year and cocky all ready eh. Not even munster champs…roll on next year.

    18
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Kevin Beakey
    Favourite Kevin Beakey
    Report
    Dec 4th 2013, 10:18 AM

    Yea can’t wait back to back all Irelands

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dave Dson
    Favourite Dave Dson
    Report
    Dec 3rd 2013, 10:33 PM

    Incredible that they only went to U.K. ,U.S. and Australia. 100%.
    It was a very narrow-minded group of people.

    27
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Spoddgy
    Favourite Spoddgy
    Report
    Dec 3rd 2013, 10:41 PM

    And where did you go to Dave? North Korea? Iraq? Afghanistan?

    101
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Shawn Rahoon
    Favourite Shawn Rahoon
    Report
    Dec 3rd 2013, 10:50 PM

    Spoddgy you left out Limerick

    18
    See 2 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dave Dson
    Favourite Dave Dson
    Report
    Dec 3rd 2013, 10:58 PM

    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.

    15
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Padraig Culbert
    Favourite Padraig Culbert
    Report
    Dec 4th 2013, 11:28 AM

    Listen? Hear it? That’s the yawning sound of ignorance. Mark it well because it is often disguised as informed opinion.

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Niall H
    Favourite Niall H
    Report
    Dec 3rd 2013, 9:54 PM

    600 new club members in Dublin gaa?!

    27
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute W.j.d.
    Favourite W.j.d.
    Report
    Dec 3rd 2013, 11:02 PM

    Ever hear a tipp man speaking English …. Ha ha ha here comes the red thumbs…

    24
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Daddy De La Noche
    Favourite Daddy De La Noche
    Report
    Dec 4th 2013, 2:11 AM

    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.

    18
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sean Lawlor
    Favourite Sean Lawlor
    Report
    Dec 4th 2013, 1:06 PM

    You will be a major loss… Hope the rest of us can manage without you in the premier county!

    23
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Richard O'Gorman
    Favourite Richard O'Gorman
    Report
    Dec 3rd 2013, 10:00 PM

    No worries, plenty have arrived to take their places.

    15
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Reg Holdsworth
    Favourite Reg Holdsworth
    Report
    Dec 4th 2013, 2:02 AM

    Ya mary, more like a spent force!

    13
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mary Walshe
    Favourite Mary Walshe
    Report
    Dec 3rd 2013, 11:52 PM

    Kilkenny on the way back, in force !

    8
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Conor O Callaghan
    Favourite Conor O Callaghan
    Report
    Dec 4th 2013, 8:02 AM

    The Tipp crowd are no good

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Elvio Verdi
    Favourite Elvio Verdi
    Report
    Dec 4th 2013, 7:58 PM

    GOOD.

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Brian Hurley
    Favourite Brian Hurley
    Report
    Dec 4th 2013, 5:44 PM

    Is that all? Lucky they still have 500+ Most counties would be lucky to have 50

    1
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

Leave a commentcancel