Ian McKinley to play for Italy

Following in the footsteps of two previously successful threads

Ian McKinley to play for the Barbarians

and

Ian McKinley to play for Zebre

Ian McKinley has been selected as part of the Italian Squad



Just 5 years and 8 months since - McKinley (21) Retires Due To Eye Injury

amazing

CMOTDibbler

As I said on the Leinster thread, I was always hopeful that this would happen for him. He just had his Treviso contract extended for another year, so this really adds to his CV and with a bit of luck, hopefully he'll get to play in the 6N.

That would be some fairy tale come true.

Wegians89

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Following in the footsteps of two previously successful threads

Ian McKinley to play for the Barbarians

and

Ian McKinley to play for Zebre

Ian McKinley has been selected as part of the Italian Squad



Just 5 years and 8 months since - McKinley (21) Retires Due To Eye Injury

amazing

Absolutely brilliant stuff, wish him all the best and be nice to see him get a good bit of playing time

vienne86

I think most Leinster fans have followed his story. What a fabulous achievement ..... He's a lovely player and one help of a courageous guy! This is brilliant news.

Wegians89

vienne86 wrote: »

I think most Leinster fans have followed his story. What a fabulous achievement ..... He's a lovely player and one help of a courageous guy! This is brilliant news.

Think most Irish fans follow him at this stage, a great story for anyone suffering from any difficulties

durthacht

I bet this was beyond his wildest dreams even in his most positive thoughts.

He has delivered at every step on this astonishing recovery - Serie C, then Zebre, then Treviso, and now extended squad at test rugby. I so hope he delivers again and earns his cap. Canna is pretty good but I'm just not sure Allan is so much better than him.

An almost unbelievable good news story. Good luck to him.

razorblunt

Incredible.
I always follow his progress, along with Will Fraser's brother Henry they're two people I very much admire.

Sad to see MacKenna having a pop at him with the usual "that doesn't make him Italian" spiel that he's banging to death this year from his favela in Brazil.

Buer

razorblunt wrote: »

Sad to see MacKenna having a pop at him with the usual "that doesn't make him Italian" spiel that he's banging to death this year from his favela in Brazil.

He is to Italian rugby what Tony Cascarino was to Irish football.

I wouldn't think twice about anything MacKenna says in relation to rugby. He's obsessed with the game. There's a very small group of football fans who are consumed with trying to denigrate rugby and seem to feel threatened by its mere existence.

McKinley's achievement is massive and 99% of fans of any sport will appluad this.

thomond2006

Ewan MacKenna should be put on your ignore list. He's an anti-rugby contrarian. I don't mind journalists who question the status quo but his slant is routinely negative and patrionising. I largely agree with him on the residency rule but he has to be the a*se that whines about McKinley even though it's a unique story.

errlloyd

McKinley is writing a movie script with every new day in his life. What I love about his story is that it is built around a love of the game. When it went wrong for him he went to a country where he didn't speak the language and he became a coach. He and his family developed their own innovative solution. From there to the third division, to Viadana, to Zebre, to Treviso and to Italy. Risking the sight in his good eye. Beating down bureaucratic barriers. All so he could play rugby.

Italy come to the Aviva next year. Could he?

Whatever happens I hope he recoups a few seasons worth of missed professional pay checks as a motivational speaker in his after career. Because I can't think of a professional barrier as big as the one he's overcome.

razorblunt

thomond2006 wrote: »

Ewan MacKenna should be put on your ignore list. He's an anti-rugby contrarian. I don't mind journalists who question the status quo but his slant is routinely negative and patrionising. I largely agree with him on the residency rule but he has to be the a*se that whines about McKinley even though it's a unique story.

I've toyed with the idea and I've followed and unfollowed him repeatedly.
You're right though.

CMOTDibbler

errlloyd wrote: »

McKinley is writing a movie script with every new day in his life. What I love about his story is that it is built around a love of the game. When it went wrong for him he went to a country where he didn't speak the language and he became a coach. He and his family developed their own innovative solution. From there to the third division, to Viadana, to Zebre, to Treviso and to Italy. Risking the sight in his good eye. Beating down bureaucratic barriers. All so he could play rugby.

Italy come to the Aviva next year. Could he?

Whatever happens I hope he recoups a few seasons worth of missed professional pay checks as a motivational speaker in his after career. Because I can't think of a professional barrier as big as the one he's overcome.

He also helped (along with his brother) develop the goggles he now wears. There's definitely a movie in there. But first he has to write the book and he's still got a few chapters left in him yet.

English Lurker

Fantastic news and I hope this is just the next step for him - great story for everyone in the sport.

Former Former

McKinley to (potentially) get his first cap off the bench on Saturday.

What a legend.

vienne86

Former Former wrote: »

McKinley to (potentially) get his first cap off the bench on Saturday.

What a legend.

Fabulous news. Is this match on TV?

FACECUTTR

vienne86 wrote: »

Fabulous news. Is this match on TV?

DMAX Italia and premier sports afaik.

Elvisjuice

vienne86 wrote: »

Fabulous news. Is this match on TV?

on eir I think

irishbucsfan

Bloody project players!

What an absolute Hero. Never give up.

thomond2006

Unreal.

I normally don't hold much stock in these awards, but surely McKinley should be recognised with an Irish Sportsperson of the Year award or something. An incredible story.

arsebiscuits1

Can't wait to hear what Kimmage and Francis and all the other pricks have to say.

Or will complaining about it only be prevalent when it suits them?

molloyjh

Ian f-ing McKinley. Some man. Delighted for him.

Neil3030

arsebiscuits1 wrote: »

Can't wait to hear what Kimmage and Francis and all the other pricks have to say.

Or will complaining about it only be prevalent when it suits them?

Please lower the mood by reminding us that those people exist!!

Didactic Ninja

Cinderella story or not. He is not Italian.

Buer

Didactic Ninja wrote:

Cinderella story or not. He is not Italian.

Christ. Are you sure? Does their Italian coach know this?

sydthebeat

Didactic Ninja wrote: »

Cinderella story or not. He is not Italian.

So what?

.ak

There's a project player thread, if you want to moan about project players keep it there.

Whilst related to said topic let's reserve this thread for what is an unbelievable story and achievement.

Didactic Ninja

Yes the coach is cognisant of his non Italian-ness and childhood dreams to play for Ireland ......not Italy.

prawnsambo

Delighted for him. What an incredible story. I remember him being at that memorable HEC final against Northampton havng just signed his first pro contract with Leinster. And then shortly afterwards to be forced to retire. It must have been gutting, but he got back up and worked his way back up from the very bottom. His career has now surpassed where he was back in those happy days.

Stheno

Came off the bench a minute or so ago:)

vienne86

Stheno wrote: »

Came off the bench a minute or so ago:)

Yippee! Have it recorded for later. This household voted for the England v Arg match.

vienne86

Flicked over to Eir while Sky ads were and saw Ian McKinley score his first international points - magic!

The Rape of Lucretia

vienne86 wrote: »

Flicked over to Eir while Sky ads were and saw Ian McKinley score his first international points - magic!

Well......

sydthebeat

vienne86 wrote: »

Flicked over to Eir while Sky ads were and saw Ian McKinley score his first international points - magic!

Practically his first touch put hayward through a hole for a 30 m gain.

He looked assured for the 15 mins or so that he got.

prawnsambo

sydthebeat wrote: »

Practically his first touch put hayward through a hole for a 30 man gain.

He looked assured for the 15 mins or so that he got.

Italy have needed a good out half for donkey's years. Hope Ian is the man to end that droiught.

randomname2005

prawnsambo wrote: »

Italy have needed a good out half for donkey's years. Hope Ian is the man to end that droiught.

Unless he slots a last minute drop goal to beat Ireland in the 6N in a few years

But in all seriousness, great story, great guy, hope he has a long career for them.

prawnsambo

I see Ian has still got that massive boot. I had to watch this video a couple of times before I spotted the ball. It was moving so fast, you'd miss it if you blinked.

McKinley penalty for Italy.

prawnsambo

Ian McKinley receiving his first cap.

vienne86

He's on the bench again for the match v Argentina on Saturday.

irishbucsfan

Not starting?! COS out!

Neil3030

prawnsambo wrote: »

I see Ian has still got that massive boot. I had to watch this video a couple of times before I spotted the ball. It was moving so fast, you'd miss it if you blinked.

McKinley penalty for Italy.

You gotta hand it to the Italians, they do have a way with putting a romantic narrative on things:

"It was a kick worth a lot more than three points, it was a kick against the awful times that have passed, a kick that once again marks the incredible story of Ian McKinley. You are writing a beautiful tale, and we are proud to have you in the team"

In Ireland that would probably be:

"Ian McKinely scores his first points for Italy. Congratulations!"

Sangre

Does he not wear his googles anymore or does he just take them off for kicks?

Neil3030

Sangre wrote: »

Does he not wear his googles anymore or does he just take them off for kicks?

Took them off for that kick anyway - was definitely wearing them in open play.

sydthebeat

Sangre wrote: »

Does he not wear his googles anymore or does he just take them off for kicks?

he takes off his goggles and headgear for kicks

prawnsambo

Sangre wrote: »

Does he not wear his googles anymore or does he just take them off for kicks?

Did you not watch the video? You could see him putting them back on again after the kick was taken.

turnikett1

Is he completely blind in one eye or is it his left eye vision just a lot dodgier in comparison? Wiki doesn't give much details. I'm just finding it hard to imagine a one-eyed player in a role so tactically and thus visually engaging as out-half.

Fair fecks anyways. Would love to see him become the new Italian rugby hero, provided he doesn't claim any of that greatness in victories over Ireland.

molloyjh

turnikett1 wrote: »

Is he completely blind in one eye or is it his left eye vision just a lot dodgier in comparison? Wiki doesn't give much details. I'm just finding it hard to imagine a one-eyed player in a role so tactically and thus visually engaging as out-half.

Fair fecks anyways. Would love to see him become the new Italian rugby hero, provided he doesn't claim any of that greatness in victories over Ireland.

Totally blind in one eye. Which makes the achievements so impressive.

prawnsambo

turnikett1 wrote: »

Is he completely blind in one eye or is it his left eye vision just a lot dodgier in comparison? Wiki doesn't give much details. I'm just finding it hard to imagine a one-eyed player in a role so tactically and thus visually engaging as out-half.

Fair fecks anyways. Would love to see him become the new Italian rugby hero, provided he doesn't claim any of that greatness in victories over Ireland.

Pretty much blind afaik. He uses a prism in his goggles to increase his peripheral vision in his right eye by as much as 30% I believe.

prawnsambo

prawnsambo wrote: »

Pretty much blind afaik. He uses a prism in his goggles to increase his peripheral vision in his right eye by as much as 30% I believe.

It's fairly astonishing. Not new technology at all as there are a variety of sight impacting conditions where people use reflective technology to increase their FOV but it's the first time it's been used in a sporting context and certainly at this level.

Anyone who plays first person shooters to a reasonably high standard will immediately understand the impact and use of the goggles!

sydthebeat

Ian starts at 10 against toulon.

Its a bit of a lambs to the slaughter team though.

A2LUE42

On Late Late show now.