From legendary All Blacks winger Jonah Lomu to current England prop Ellis Genge, this article takes a look at a number of rugby players who overcame disabilities to achieve big things in the sport they love.
These inspiring achievers pursued their dreams and achieved so much!
RUGBY PLAYERS WITH DISABILITIES:
1. Ian Mckinley – Blindness
It’s now roughly eight years since the accident that led to Ian McKinley losing the sight in his left eye. In a freak accident, a stray boot from a fellow teammate perforated his left eye while playing a club match in 2010 for University College Dublin, leaving him partially blind in that eye. The injury would be a career-ending one for 99.9% of professional athletes but not for McKinley.
One of the most extraordinary things of this or any other Six Nations. Ian McKinley, blind in his left eye, kicking off his left foot. A Dubliner V Ireland tomorrow @ITVRugby pic.twitter.com/Z1kSXCFw3D
— Nick Mullins (@andNickMullins) February 23, 2019
2. Henry Slade – Type 1 Diabetes
Slade signed his first professional contract with Exeter Chiefs at the age of 18, the same year in which he also developed type 1 diabetes. Under the 2010 Equality Act, type 1 diabetes is defined as a disability, in that it may have a ‘substantial, long-term, negative impact on a person’s ability to carry out normal, day-to-day activities’.
#Charityis… @ExeterChiefs superstar Henry Slade supporting type 1 diabetes research and inspiring others pic.twitter.com/UvllTJzcCd
— JDRF UK (@JDRFUK) March 14, 2016