THE LAST WORD

IT WAS March 2014, the same week of the Brian O’Driscoll home Test farewell hype, when we interviewed the inspiring Ian McKinley ahead of his first match in 33 months. He had been forced to retire at 21 after becoming blind in one eye, damage initially sustained in January 2010 when a UCD team-mate accidentally stood on his left eye with a stud and it burst.

Italy was where McKinley went to bravely rebuild his life after having his dream of a pro career at Leinster cut short.

The standard at Leonorso was equivalent to Irish junior two grade but he considered himself very lucky that IRB trial-sanctioned goggles were giving a new lease of life, enabling him to throw on the kit, cross the white line and orchestrate from out-half like he used to.

His exemplary progress up the Italian ranks was such that he made his debut off the bench for Zebre 12 days ago at home to Scarlets, but he is prevented from featuring tonight against Connacht in Galway as the IRFU never sanctioned the goggles trial.

It’s a stupid standoff that makes PRO12 look weak. League regulations should be the same for all four participating countries. End of. Let McKinley play.