Ian McKinley, the 26-year-old product of St Columba's and the Leinster academy who has made a remarkable recovery to professional rugby after losing his vision in one eye, is being prevented from playing in Ireland by the IRFU and thus from obtaining a full-time contract with Zebre.
McKinley has returned to the game thanks to the use of protective goggles which he helped design and which World Rugby have been trialling since January 2014. He has resumed his career in Italian rugby, and would have obtained a full-time contract with first Treviso and now Zebre but for the IRFU’s stance. In effect, the Union are preventing him from earning his livelihood from the game.
“I am frustrated that the trial has taken so long for the goggles too be ratified and that the IRFU refuse to take part in the trial,” McKinley told the Irish Times yesterday after training with Zebre.
“I have played 36 games with the goggles and there are over 500 people in that trial. Granted, some of them are schoolchildren but there has not been one incident resulting from the use of the goggles, for any of the players concerned or their opponents.”
Seven of the world's leading rugby nations, ie those which play in the Rugby Championship or Six Nations, have taken part in the trial. These are Argentina, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Italy, Scotland and Wales.
The exceptions are Ireland, England and France.
Hence, McKinley can play in 18 of Zebre’s 22 Guinness Pro12 games; the exceptions being tomorrow’s game away to Connacht and their other games in Ireland against Leinster, Munster and Ulster.
“I cannot pursue my career,” said McKinley. “Treviso wouldn’t offer me a full-time contract because I was not able to play in all of their games. Last year they had two outhalf options and they decided to go with the other player, and if I was Treviso, I would have done the same.” My potential
“The same is true with Zebre. I was able to play our game against the Scarlets but now I cannot play against Connacht because of the IRFU’s stance. I can’t fulfil my potential as a rugby player. They are preventing me from making my livelihood as a full-time rugby player.”
McKinley helped to develop the pioneering goggles after losing his left eye during an AIL match with UCD in 2010.
As well as playing six times for Leinster, he has 11 caps for Ireland at under-19 and under-20 age-levels.
“I lost my eye when a team-mate accidentally put his stud in it during a ruck, causing a full rupture,” said McKinley.
“I was determined to stay playing despite my injury, and I continued with Leinster for a further 18 months. However, during that time, my good eye was deliberately gouged during two All-Ireland League matches. I had to face up to the reality that I could end up blind if I continued to play without protective eyewear. So I made the excruciating decision to quit the game I loved at the age of 21.”
McKinley subsequently worked with designers on the Masters in Medical Device Design programme at NCAD to find a solution that would enable him to continue playing rugby. He played a key role in the development of the protective goggles, which are now being manufactured by Italian firm Raleri and used by 525 players worldwide.
With the help of the goggles, McKinley returned to the game with Italian club side Leonorso Udine in 2013, and joined Viadana last season, before being taken first by Treviso and now, this season, by Zebre on a part-time basis.
“I received a letter from the IRFU last week, saying they could not permit me to play against Connacht if I wear the protective goggles,” explained McKinley. “They had sought World Rugby’s advice, and were told a player from a participating union may not wear goggles while playing in the jurisdiction of a union that is not participating in the trial.”
“So I am now faced with a ludicrous situation, whereby the IRFU will allow me to play if I do not wear the goggles, but they will not permit me to play if I wear this essential piece of protective gear.”
