ireland-rugby.com

Declan Kidney has signed a contract that will keep him in charge of Ireland until the 2011 World Cup, the 48 year old will however not take charge until after Ireland’s summer tour to New Zealand and Australia.

Kidney requires the time to concentrate on his current assignment of preparing Munster for their Heineken Cup final against Toulouse on the 24th May.

The IRFU have said that the management team for the Barbarians game on the 27th May, New Zealand (7th June) and Australia (14th June) will be “announced shortly”, but it’s widely expected that Michael Bradley of Connacht will take temporary responsibility for the games.

Kidney had this to say:

“There is no greater honour for any coach than to lead his own country,

I have worked with many exceptional players during my career at both international and provincial level and there is no doubt that we have the talent in Ireland to be successful at the highest level.

“The challenge going forward for the Ireland team and Irish rugby as a whole is to continue the growth and success on the field. I am excited about the challenge and looking forward to working with the players.

“My focus now for the next three weeks will be totally on the Munster team and the preparation for the Heineken European Cup Final.”

Philip Browne of the IRFU said:

“It was obvious from the very beginning of this process that he was one of the main contenders to lead Ireland to the next Rugby World Cup in 2011,”

“His ability to achieve success and develop players in the ever increasing competitive arena of professional rugby is proven and the IRFU is delighted to have made this appointment.

“While the need to make the appointment as soon as was practicable was important, the IRFU was conscious of keeping any disruption to the preparations of the Munster team to a minimum.”

Declan Kinday has coached several off the current first team in his time coaching the under-age sides of Ireland, including the under-19 side that won the 1998 World Cup! That team included O’Driscoll, O’Callaghan and Wallace.

Kidney’s Munster sides suffered narrow defeats in the 2000 and 2002 and Heineken Cup finals, and after a short time as Ireland assistant coach and Leinster boss he returned to Munster to equip them for the their 2006 European triumph - let’s hope he can do the same again on May 24th!

The first real task ahead for the new manager will be to prepare for an Autumn series that will include Tests against the All Blacks and Argentina.

Ireland will kick off their next Six Nations campaign at Croke Park on Saturday February 7th against France, before facing a Valentine’s weekend fixture in Rome on the Sunday lunchtime (2.30pm). With a week off before they host England and then head to Murrayfield to take on Scotland on March 14th. The final game on 21st March at the Millennium stadium will see them face the holders, Wales.

The game in Rome is the only early game for Ireland with the rest kicking off at 5pm or 5.30pm, Ireland also miss out on the first Friday night game in the tournament’s history (France v Wales, February 27th).

2009 RBS 6 NATIONS (All kick-offs GMT)

• Week 1:
  Saturday, February 7
  England v Italy - 3.00pm
  Ireland v France - 5.00pm

  Sunday, February 8
  Scotland v Wales - 3.00pm

• Week 2:
  Saturday, February 14
  France v Scotland - 3.00pm
  Wales v England - 5.30pm

  Sunday, February 15
  Italy v Ireland - 2.30pm

• Week 3:
  February 21-22 - Free
• Week 4:
  Friday, February 27
  France v Wales - 8.00pm

  Saturday, February 28
  Scotland v Italy - 3.00pm
  Ireland v England - 5.30pm

• Week 5:
  March 7-8 - Free
  
• Week 6:
  Saturday, March 14
  Italy v Wales - 3.00pm
  Scotland v Ireland - 5.00pm
• Sunday, March 15
  England v France - 3.00pm
• Week 7:
  Saturday, March 21
  Italy v France - 1.15pm
  England v Scotland - 3.30pm
  Wales v Ireland - 5.30pm

Humphreys has represented Ireland at every level, beginning is career with London Irish, before returning to Ulster in 98/99 to captiain Ulster to their famous Heineken Cup win in January 1999.

In 2004 he became only the fourth Ulster player to reach 100-caps, and currently has 145 Ulster caps!
At international level ‘Humphs’ is the second most capped out-half with 72 caps and 560 points, making his debut in 1996 and remaining an ever present name on the team sheet until he retired after the 2006 Six Nations Campaign.

On hearing the new Humphreys said:

“I am particularly honored to be accepting this award and joining the former players already inducted into the IRUPA Hall of Fame. This award means an awful lot to me especially as it comes from players I played with and against during my career.”

A qualified solicitor, Humphreys was educated at Ballymena Academy, Queen’s University Belfast and Oxford University.

He received an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Ulster in December 2003 for Services to Sport and an MBE in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours List in January 2004, making his full title, Dr David Humphreys MBE.

The tour of South Africa in 2009 will see Ireland face three Test matches against the Springboks.

Over a period of six weeks (six weekend and four midweek fixtures), Ireland will play in seven cities facing both club sides, and an interesting fixture against the Emerging Springboks.

Since 1891 the Lions have won 16 Tests against the Springboks and lost 21, while seven Tests have been drawn.

• 30 MAY 2009 SATURDAY
  HIGHVELD XV ROYAL BAFOKENG RUSTENBURG
• 3 JUNE 2009 WEDNESDAY
  GOLDEN LIONS ELLIS PARK JOHANNESBURG
• 6 JUNE 2009 SATURDAY
  CHEETAHS VODACOM PARK BLOOMFONTEIN
• 10 JUNE 2009 WEDNESDAY
  SHARKS ABSA PARK DURBAN
• 13 JUNE 2009 SATURDAY
  WESTERN PROVINCE NEWLANDS CAPE TOWN
• 16/17 JUNE 2009* TUESDAY / WEDNESDAY*
  COASTAL XV* TO BE CONFIRMED* PORT ELIZABETH*
• 20 JUNE 2009 SATURDAY
  1ST TEST ABSA PARK DURBAN
• 23 JUNE 2009 TUESDAY
  EMERGING SPRINGBOKS NEWLANDS CAPE TOWN
• 27 JUNE 2009 SATURDAY
  2ND TEST LOFTUS VERSFELD PRETORIA
• 4 JULY 2009 SATURDAY
  3RD TEST ELLIS PARK JOHANNESBURG

Kidney’s still in the frame and staking his claim more than ever as Munster march in the Heineken Cup, but another name is in the frame, Heyneke Meyer.

Heyneke Meyer has confirmed his interest have quitting coaching when he wasn’t offered the vacant Springboks job, he’d already lead the Bulls to a historic Super 14 victory!

“But it’s been hard to watch the Super 14. I’m giving a rugby course for 20 schools next week and have been in touch with some of my old Bulls colleagues and suddenly I‘ve got that excitement and vibe again.

“I miss being involved in something special and a culture where peope will die for each other. I always thought that Irish rugby has that passion.”

“Obviously it would be an honour if Ireland approach me but at this stage there has been no official approach.”

“I believe Ireland can go places. I really thought you guys would have a great World Cup and I’ve always that Ireland was one of the teams that can match the southern hemisphere sides up front, plus you’ve got brilliant backs. So I’ve always kept an eye on them.”

Kidney remains the favourite…

Declan by Default?

It could come to that you know, given some of the reports I’ve read today! Declan Kidney appears to be the only person really in the frame!

The calls have started to go out and renowned managers have declared themselves out. So who’s left?

White - Out, Howard - Out.

John Mitchell seems happy guiding Western Force in the Super 14, Wayne Smith is contract to the New Zealand RFU.

Ruddock - Out, Alan Gaffney has declared an interest, but they could still go for Kidney.

He won’t inject that “newness” that Gatland has injected to the Wales set up, he’s well known to half the squad! He’s a good selector and decent tactician - but he got the Munster job in the same way nearly a decade ago when Andy Leslie and John Bevan didn’t want it.

If nobody else steps up Kidney might just be the man, we’re not saying that’s a bad thing - just that nobody else seems to fancy the job!

Mike Ruddock & Jake White have both ruled themselves out of the frame for the Ireland job.

Ruddock who also coached Leinster, has been linked with the job - but has two years left on his Worcester contact and would like to see the job through.

Jake White who has been out of rugby since leading the Springboks to their World Cup victory last November, was also in the frame but his agent Craig Livingston said it “would definitely not be a consideration for Jake”. He appears to be keen on the England post mind!

It’s also been suggested that Pat Howard although leaving his job with the Australian Rugby Union at the end of the month, is not keen to uproot his family back to the Northern Hemisphere

Ireland and Leinster back, Shane Horgan has agreed a new contract that will see him play with Ireland and Leinster until the end of the 2010 season.

Horgan has played his entire professional career with his hometown after making his debut against Ulster in 1998, he also made it into the 2005 British and Irish Lions squad for a tour to New Zealand.

Eoin Reddan has urged the IRFU to act swiftly to appoint a new successor to Eddie O’Sullivan:

‘The important thing is to get on with it. It would be great to get someone who is successful and who can take us forward,’ said the Wasps scrum-half.

‘That’s what happened seven years ago with Eddie - he took us forward and now we need the same again.

‘These are exciting times for Ireland. There’s a chance for the IRFU to go out and get the best in the world, which they should do and will do.

‘We need a man who will really inspire and excite the players that we have and push Ireland to new levels. We definitely have the players to achieve great things.’

Pat Howard appears to be the favourite with the bookies so far, with Geordan Murphy having worked with Howard it’s sparked some interest in the squad.

‘Pat Howard sounds like an excellent candidate. He almost took Leicester to the treble last year,’ he said.

‘He nearly pulled it off but we beat Leicester in the Heineken Cup final. To be in that position anyway was a major achievement.

‘He has a good track record and you only need look at what he’s done at Leicester to see how talented he is.

‘Geordan told me he’s a good coach, a good guy and great man manager with lots of fantastic ideas.’

Eddie O’Sullivan stepped down from his post as head coach of Ireland late last night - and several names are already in the frame for his job - but can they live up to Eddie’s record of winning 50 of his 78 games in charge?

Many people were confused when pre-World Cup O’Sullivan was handed a new four year contract worth £1m. It would appear the small print covered the backs of the IRFU though and upon O’Sullivan’s resignation (which came sooner than the expected review into the Six Nations) he’s likely to receive a performance-linked pay-out of nearly £500k.

O’Sullivan was born in 1958 a played as a winger for Munster, before beginning coaching with clubs such as Blackrock and Buccaneers, eventually take Connacht up a gear.

Stepping up a gear to Internationals himself in 1995 he guided the Ireland U21 squad to their first-ever Grand Slam.

Things looked a little unstable at the Connacht in 1998, so O’Sullivan moved to the US and coached the US Eagles during the1999 World Cup.

Soon after the 1999 World Cup, O’Sullivan became assistant to then Ireland coach (and now Wales coach) Warren Gatland, taking over the squad himself in 2001 and immediately establishing himself with a record 54-10 win over Wales at Landsdowne.

Ireland have won three Triple Crowns in four years under O’Sullivan but the Grand Slam has eluded them - especially last season. In Six Nations terms O’Sullivan is a great winning 24 of his 35 games, finishing second three times and third twice. This season fourth was his worst result and allowed Ireland to slip to eighth in the IRB rankings (along way from second at the start of the 2003 World Cup!).

O’Sullivan remains one of the most respected coaches in world rugby, and wins against Australia, South Africa and four in a row against England have highlighted that. The real clincher was a record 43-13 win over England at Croke Park last season.

It was not to be the great World Cup that so many predicted though, struggling past Namibia and Georgia, before being beaten by Argentina and France meant Ireland were on the plane home before the group stages - something that has never happened!

It wasn’t all O’Sullivan’s fault - the team failed to gel somewhat as well.

O’Sullivan was dedicated to the Irish cause, and will be missed by those of us that think he did a sound job - maybe it’s time for a shake up at the IRFU. O’Sullivan won’t be out of rugby for long, after a well earned break he’ll pop up again somewhere - he’s too good for that not to happen!