Ian McKinley: Second Sight

Rugby’s long history is full of tales of inspirational courage. Yet there has never been a rugby player quite as remarkable, quite as jaw-droppingly brave, as Ian McKinley.


The young fly-half was one of Ireland’s hottest rugby prospects. But his life changed forever when a horrifying injury to his left eye while playing for University College Dublin saw McKinley’s vision, his world and his future come crashing down around him. It left McKinley blind in one eye and bereft, forcing him into early retirement, his ambitions and his dreams scattered in the wind.


After relocating to Italy to heal and rebuild himself as a youth rugby coach, a heartbroken McKinley battled on until a sudden refusal to bow to cruel fate once again changed the course of his life. In that moment, he made a vow – that he would do whatever it took to once again play the game he loved at the highest level.


Second Sight: Rugby and Redemption is more than just an astounding sporting story, it is a tale that celebrates the power of the human spirit to overcome the greatest of setbacks.