**Ian McKinley is hoping Benetton Rugby can channel the underdog spirit of his beloved football team when the Guinness PRO14 season returns.** The Irish-born fly-half, who made the switch to Treviso from Italian rivals Zebre in 2016, is an avid fan of English football's Charlton Athletic away from the rugby field, and watched them book their place in the League One play-off final last season as they beat Doncaster Rovers on penalties. Closer to home, McKinley’s Benetton side currently lie sixth in Conference B, level on points with Cardiff Blues - with a game in hand - and still with one eye on a potential play-off spot as they sit just eight points behind third-place Scarlets. And the 30-year-old, who has never been one for glory hunting, says the temporary halt to the competition’s season owing to coronavirus has come at a bad time for Kieran Crowley’s men. “We’ve certainly had an up and down season here at Benetton with the Rugby World Cup and guys coming back - it’s certainly been a challenge for us with so many guys that were involved in the tournament,” he said.
