Ian McKinley back in his boots having fun!

[RnR]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/rugbyu ... paign=1490

[artaneboy]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/rugbyu ... paign=1490

Great to read and the best of luck to Ian. Tragic for him and unfortunate for Leinster that that terrible injury deprived him of playing for Leinster. McKinley was ahead of Madigan as Sexton's replacement at the start of last season when the bad news emerged. Any hope that he'll be both allowed and abl to play the pro game if these goggles work out?

[All Blacks nil]

Great to see the guy back playing rugby.
He was hardly ahead of Madigan in the pecking order though considering he only ever made 6 appearances for Leinster.
Hope everything goes okay for him.

[[Jackass]]

I wonder where he would be now. Would he be first choice at Leinster? Would Madigan be at Munster / Connacht / UK? He was ahead of Madigan coming through. Would he be on the bench for Ireland in the 6 nations?

I'm sure he asks himself those questions all the time. A freak accident and devastating for the fella. Wish him all the best.

Great to see the guy back playing rugby.
He was hardly ahead of Madigan in the pecking order though considering he only over made 6 appearances for Leinster.

Don't forget the A's, where McKinley was always picked at 10 and Madigan was forced to play 12 / 15 or bench behind him.

[Vamos los azules]

Hope it works out for him. I do wonder sometimes what might have been for him. Of the 2 Ians he looked like the better potential.

[fourthirtythree]

Great to see the guy back playing rugby.
He was hardly ahead of Madigan in the pecking order though considering he only ever made 6 appearances for Leinster.
Hope everything goes okay for him.

He actually was definitely ahead of Madigan and, to my memory anyway, more highly rated. This was 3 years ago now though so who knows what might have happened in between.

I only say that to remember what a talent was lost to the game. I'm delighted that he's sounding so positive. He was quite depressed in the interviews during the bad times. I do remember talking to a group of his friends and finding out about how the eye injury had escalated and he was going to retire in a pre-season match.

Madigan's subsequent form was an unexpected boost to Leinster. Unfortunately injuries are opportunities...

[artaneboy]

Great to see the guy back playing rugby.
He was hardly ahead of Madigan in the pecking order though considering he only ever made 6 appearances for Leinster.
Hope everything goes okay for him.

He most certainly was ahead of Madigan at that stage! Admittedly it was a comparison of almost opposites in fly half styles. Big loss- glad to see him get his place on the field though.

[Xanthippe]

The Return of McKin (sorry!!)











All pictures courtesy of Brendan Little on Facebook

[LeRouxIsPHat]

Brilliant photos! Great to see him being able to play again and wish him all the best.

[Darce]

Delighted for the chap

[Donny B.]

Fair play to Bails for going over to support him too!

[future international]

Delighted to see him back having played against him in school. The Edgar Davids of the rugby world.

[Donny B.]

http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/m ... -1.1896043

And now he's signed a pro contract with Viadana. Delighted for the guy!

[Vamos los azules]

http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/m ... -1.1896043

And now he's signed a pro contract with Viadana. Delighted for the guy!

Excellent news for him. He is still fairly young as well. Hopefully he can really promote those glasses and help others continue to play as well.

[offshorerules]

That's fantastic, well done mate.

[meinster]

I still think he's nuts, but he definitely deserves every break coming his way. Hope it goes well for him!

[Xanthippe]

Ian McKinley called up to the Barbarians for their game against Heriots tomorrow night

[OTT]

Ian McKinley called up to the Barbarians for their game against Heriots tomorrow night

Awesome!