Dublin: When Sean McDowell suffered a brain injury and lost his sight, his self-confidence plummeted — until his life was transformed by rugby.
The sport gave McDowell a “new beginning”; after he joined the Irish Rugby Football Union’s Visually Impaired (VI) rugby programme, his wife Aine told AFP.
The programme came into being last year with former Italy fly-half Ian McKinley playing a prominent role — based on his own experience.
McKinley overcame the odds to play Test rugby having lost the sight in his left eye but thanks to special goggles enjoyed a renaissance in his career in Italy.
The 32-year-old said rugby fits like a glove with such a programme.
“The key buzzwords in rugby of inclusion and connection just falls straight into it,”; he said from his home in Northern Ireland.
“It’s nice to be able to help out and provide something in a sport that gave me so much and can give those people a lot too.”;
McDowell lost his vision two years ago. His self-confidence in 2020 due to a brain injury and with it his self-confidence.
However, he rediscovered certain vim after Aine drove him the two hours from their home in Northern Ireland to the Dublin rugby club Old Wesley.
“There has been a massive change in Sean,”; Aine told AFP.
“The main thing is his confidence grew and grew in everything. It has made him more outgoing knowing he can try new things.
“He is a lot more confident in himself and putting himself out there meeting new people. It is a new beginning.”;
Sean admitted that although he followed the Ireland rugby team, he preferred to play football and Gaelic Games.
However, the programme — overseen by David McKay, the IRFU’s Disability and Inclusion Officer — stood out when he heard about it.
“After the first day even though it is a couple of hours each way I made the decision I wanted to be going back to every session,”; he told AFP.
“The drive is not a big deal given the enjoyment I get out of it.
“The coaches made me feel at ease right from the start.
“I was not great with my feet, I was a bit unstable but they worked with me and it has just got better.”;
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