LEINSTER HAVE announced the retirement of outhalf Ian McKinley due to an injury that has resulted in him losing the sight in his left eye. McKinley (21) played six times for Leinster after making his debut away to the Dragons in May 2009.

Following the injury in January 2010, he played four times last season, scoring a try in his man-of-the-match display in the league victory over Benetton Treviso in the RDS in February.

The former St Columba’s College playmaker graduated from the Leinster Academy in May with a HETAC (Higher Education and Training Awards Council) diploma before being rewarded with his first professional contract following what was thought to be an incredible recovery from the eye injury, which happened in an All-Ireland League game for his then club UCD, against Lansdowne.

“After the accident happened I was advised that a cataract would develop, but the surgeon was surprised that it did not happen until 18 months after the initial incident,” said McKinley.

“I was determined to overcome the temporary loss of sight and get back playing rugby so I was thrilled to return to training six months after the accident. In May, though, I played a game for the Leinster Development side and I had to stop after 15 minutes because of blurred vision. I then sustained a detached retina and three operations over this summer couldn’t save my sight in that eye.”