Today, we’ve got Jacob Lineen with us. You might recognize the name – he comes from a rugby family with his famous dad, Sean, who played center for Scotland. So, Jacob, growing up in a rugby family, was it all about rugby for you right from the get-go? No football in the mix?
Well, there was never a football in the house, that’s for sure! We always had a rugby ball in the garden. I was fortunate to have a brother, so we’d pass that rugby ball around every day. Rugby was pretty much the path I was put on from an early age, so I didn’t really have much of a choice. But you know what? I ended up falling in love with the game!
So, what position did you end up taking on?
I’m a winger and full-back, part of the back three. You know, the guys who score tries out on the wing. Yep, that’s me.
Did your dad ever say, “Come on, we need you more in the centre”?
Nah, I don’t think I was big enough to hold my own in the centre, to be honest. If my dad were playing these days, he’d probably be a winger too, given his size. I’m quite content with my spot in the back three.
What was your rugby journey like in school, and where are you at with your rugby career now?
Back in Scotland, I played age-grade Scottish rugby. After that, I made the move to Sydney, where I’ve been playing for Eastern Suburbs. The goal is to keep progressing and see where my performance takes me.
Let’s dive into the topic of night lenses and eyesight. When did you first notice that you needed glasses due to nearsightedness, and how old were you?
I first noticed my eyesight wasn’t up to par when I was around 14 or 15. That’s when I thought, “I might need glasses.” I did give glasses a try for a while, wore them in school to see the whiteboard from afar, but honestly, they didn’t vibe with me, especially when it came to sports.
What was it like when you showed up at school wearing glasses? How did your mates react?
Oh, I caught some serious flak for wearing those glasses! Apparently, some people just don’t look good with glasses on. I happen to be one of those people!
At that stage, as you were making strides in rugby, did you feel that your eyesight was impacting your performance on the field?
Yeah, absolutely. Playing in the back three, especially at a high level, there’s a lot of high ball catching and scanning the entire field from side to side. That’s when you really start to notice the difference. At higher levels of play, it’s those “one percenters” that make all the difference.
As a full-back, you’re dealing with high balls, pressure, and Scotland’s notorious rainy and muddy conditions…
Exactly, mate, it’s often dark too!
So, did wearing night lenses make rugby easier for you?
My eyesight wasn’t terrible, so I could manage without night lenses. But once I started using them, I noticed a significant improvement. At that point, I only had to pop them in once a week, and they’d keep my vision sharp for the whole week. As a lazy teenager, that was ideal.
Did you notice a difference in your performance with night lenses in other sports you played?
Definitely, mate. Surprisingly, the most noticeable change was when I played family tennis. Everything seemed like it was half a second too slow to react to, like a fuzzy green thing coming at me. I distinctly remember thinking, “Something’s off here.” Once I started using night lenses, my ball-hitting game improved considerably. I wasn’t a tennis pro, but there was a tangible difference.
Knowing your dad, he’s quite competitive, right? I can picture him smashing the ball at you. Was it no-holds-barred in the Lineen household?
There was absolutely no mercy in the Lineen household! Back in the day, it used to be me and my brother against my mum and dad. But nowadays, it’s my mum and me taking on my dad and my brother – and let me tell you, they go all out for victory. There’s no holding back! My dad still serves at 100%, drop-shots, and lobs her, the works!
I can imagine! There’s this great story about the cricketer Ian Botham bowling full tilt at his kids… The no-mercy approach seems to have served your family well! Would you recommend night lenses to other young rugby players, or any rugby players, and why?
Absolutely, I’d give them the thumbs-up! They’re super easy to use, and you don’t have to deal with any fuss. I’ve seen players on the field struggling with their lenses, sticking their fingers in their eyes – that’s the last thing you want to be worried about during a game. I’d definitely recommend night lenses – they make a massive difference, and they’re a breeze to use.
Before our chat, we were talking about that Ulster #8 who was caught on camera fiddling with his lenses for about 6 minutes before the medic came to help him out. In that time, there was a line-out and a scrum. The last thing you want to be thinking about is a lens problem while performing at an elite level, or any level, really. Night lenses solve that issue, which is why many folks call them a game-changer for short-sighted athletes. Have they been a game-changer in your life?
I’d say so. If I didn’t wear night lenses and had to rely on glasses and day lenses, it’d be a different story. I can’t even imagine what that would be like. I’ve gotten so used to wearing night lenses that I don’t even see myself as someone who wears lenses. I pop them in at night and take them out in the morning – it’s that simple.
Many long-time night lens users say they don’t even feel like they have an eyesight problem anymore because they no longer have to constantly think about glasses or day lenses…
Exactly! During the day, you don’t have to fuss about this stuff. It becomes second nature, just a 30-second part of your morning and evening routine.
Thank you so much for this interview. Enjoy your time in Sydney! Best of luck with your rugby career – we’re excited to see how it unfolds.