Ian McKinley to play for the Barbarians

rrpc

He's been playing in Italy for the last couple of years but it appears that he's now going to play for the Barbarians in Scotland tomorrow.

He was playing/coaching in Udine and was then spotted by Viadana and has started for them 16 times this season. Most of his starts have been at 10 and he's doing this with one eye and wearing protective goggles.

What a fantastic story!

duckysauce

jesus that's great stuff delighted for him . Italy might be capping him soon.

.ak

Would love leinster to have a look at him

bilston

http://www.the42.ie/ian-mckinley-2-1871677-Jan2015/

Was just reading the article above about him in January. I was staggered to hear that he had to give up initially because of attempts to gouge his good eye.

WTF is wrong with some people? That is probably the most sickening thing I've heard take place on rugby pitch actually.

vienne86

I'm amazed that he is willing to take any risk of damaging the good eye, but it's his choice. Some bave guy.

Podge_irl

It's completely mad. The whole point of the goggles he's now allowed wear is to protect his good eye. That people would target his one working eye is frankly sickening.

Bloody good player and a great accomplishment.

rrpc

.ak wrote: »

Would love leinster to have a look at him

Well when he got his Leinster contract he was clearly the next best to Jonny and had great potential. It was such a shame that he had to quit which makes it all the more special to see him claw his way back even if this is as far as it goes.

Though I doubt he will stop trying. Italy do need a good out half.

rrpc

Here's the full squad: http://www.barbarianfc.co.uk/news/squad-to-play-heriots/

Mousewar

Top guy. Delighted for him.

Sangre

Absolutely super player, delighted he is able to still show off his talents. I'll never forget a tackle he had to make on Xavier Rush who was running at him full tilt after he broke from a 5m scrum. Absolutely smashed him and Rush knocked the ball on.

Imagine we still had him and O'Malley playing for us? Such a shame.

Buer

I really do wonder if Zebre or Treviso might be willing to take a punt on him or bring him into the extended set up.

Obviously, he will never be the player he might have been but does Ian McKinley with one eye beat some of the guys Treviso and Zebre have on their books with two? Treviso in particular don't have good options there.

razorblunt

It's on across the road from me, but I won't get home in time.
Wouldn't have been a bad way to spend an evening.

thomond2006

McKinley is on the bench. Quite a story!

PJ Maybe

Being streamed live here : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgFI5aIMx0M

Just coming up to half time.

PJ Maybe

McKinley on No. 22.

thomond2006

38 points for Baabaas and the fullback Botha has scored 4 tries!

thomond2006

HT

A bunch of cheerleaders have come on, in front of a very small crowd. :pac:

Pudsy33

thomond2006 wrote: »

HT

A bunch of cheerleaders have come on, in front of a very small crowd. :pac:

You know the game has been over for an hour or so, yeah? :pac:

thomond2006

Pudsy33 wrote: »

You know the game has been over for an hour or so, yeah? :pac:

*exits*

razorblunt

97-31 to the Barbarian, talk about holding the score!!

JPCN1

Fair dues to him. Had he not had the injury I think he'd have a few Irish caps under his belt as he had a serious talent.

accidentprone1

How'd he get on in the end?

Swan Curry

accidentprone1 wrote: »

How'd he get on in the end?

Barbarians won 97-31, looks like McKinley came on late enough

rrpc

Swan Curry wrote: »

Barbarians won 97-31, looks like McKinley came on late enough

He was on for the last twenty minutes.

Sangre

I wonder how manages his placekicks given that he (I would assume) have greatly reduced depth perception.

bilston

Did anyone see the picture of the injury Davy McGregor (former Irish 20s hooker) picked up in this game?

http://www.the42.ie/davy-mcgregor-ear-injury-rugby-2062414-Apr2015/

Don't be eating your lunch when you look at this!

errlloyd

Sangre wrote: »

I wonder how manages his placekicks given that he (I would assume) have greatly reduced depth perception.

Shouldn't be an issue at all really. Depth perception is pretty awful at range anyway, so most kickers will actually rely on memory and pitch markings to decide where the posts are.

.ak

He's been slotting them over anyway for his club side

Beery Eyed

This really is a phenomenal story & I'm delighted for the lad that he got to play for the Baa-Baa's. A dream come true for any player!

Just letting my imagination run wild a bit, but I wonder if there is any chance that he could be included in the Barbarian's squad that goes to Thomond at the end of May? I know that it's a different level of game, but he's on their radar now & it would be a great next step in his story.

He would fill a number of the criteria for a classic Barbarian's selection as well - a classy, uncapped, young player from the host country. Even being included in the extended squad would be a great experience. They also have two matches in 4 days, so they'll need a good few players involved with the short turnaround. Unlikely of course, but it would be great if it happened!

total former

He's on newstalk right now.

Clearly hopes to get on to a higher level of rugby but because Ireland, Britain and France don't allow his goggles, he is essentially useless to the likes of Zebre or Treviso (or leinster).

Podge_irl

total former wrote: »

He's on newstalk right now.

Clearly hopes to get on to a higher level of rugby but because Ireland, Britain and France don't allow his goggles, he is essentially useless to the likes of Zebre or Treviso (or leinster).

Depending on the outlook for the future of the goggles treviso could do worse than having him for just their home games for now. Unless they wouldn't be allowed in the competition full stop.

pickarooney

Podge_irl wrote: »

Depending on the outlook for the future of the goggles treviso could do worse than having him for just their home games for now. Unless they wouldn't be allowed in the competition full stop.

I wonder does Romania allow them

mogwai81

Sangre wrote: »

I wonder how manages his placekicks given that he (I would assume) have greatly reduced depth perception.

After about 2/3 months the brain adjusts to one eye. Not exactly the same as before but not far off.

padser

Sangre wrote: »

I wonder how manages his placekicks given that he (I would assume) have greatly reduced depth perception.

He obviously just hits everything at 100% power..... None of this new age "place the ball 2 feet over the bar" stuff you see the show off outhalves doing

Neil3030

Would he be good enough to play in Japan? Sure those fellas love their gadgets, hard see the goggles being banned there.

duckysauce

Neil3030 wrote: »

Would he be good enough to play in Japan? Sure those fellas love their gadgets, hard see the goggles being banned there.

hardly call his aid, a gadget

errlloyd

Neil3030 wrote: »

Would he be good enough to play in Japan? Sure those fellas love their gadgets, hard see the goggles being banned there.

The problem is they are so limited on how many foreign players they can have, they will only sign superstars.

Zzippy

errlloyd wrote: »

The problem is they are so limited on how many foreign players they can have, they will only sign superstars.

I'm usually biased towards Connacht players, but George Naoupu is hardly a superstar and he spent a while out there...

CIARAN_BOYLE

Zzippy wrote: »

I'm usually biased towards Connacht players, but George Naoupu is hardly a superstar and he spent a while out there...

Things have changed

irishbucsfan

CIARAN_BOYLE wrote: »

Things have changed

Not that much though, there are some less than special players over there still.

Buer

There are loads of players in Japan that aren't superstars. In fact, the bulk of foreign players there wouldn't be. They might have a couple of superstars in their squad, a couple of one cap wonders who cashed in on that and got a contract as soon as they knew their careers weren't going places at home and a few guys we'll never have heard of.

Toshiba Brave Lupus are the most successful Top League team ever. They have guys like Daisuke Estrella (American), Lee Kwang Moon (Korean) and Epeli Nakolinivalu (Fijian) in their squad. No, I've never heard of them either.

errlloyd

Fair enough, it seems I'm wrong.