O’Sullivan’s Successor - Decision: Declan Kidney
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.