Fitzgerald On All Irish Coaching Ticket

Munster CEO Garrett Fitzgerald met with media yesterday as he officially confirmed Brian Walsh and Jerry Flannery as the final two members of Munster’s new backroom staff.

Walsh and Flanney will take up the roles of Assistant Coach and Scrum Coach respectively, and will join an all-Irish management team under the guidance of Head Coach Anthony Foley.

Speaking at UL yesterday, Fitzgerald was quick to note that the province had not intentionally set out to recruit a fully home-grown coaching ticket:

“That wasn’t the policy. It was a matter of looking at who was available and who were suitable to do the job and we looked extensively at who was available. In professional rugby worldwide the number of players, coaches and everyone that’s available is quite small. The whole professional rugby market is a very small market and can’t even been compared to football or some other sports. So that’s how we ended up in that situation.

“It was never a policy decision to appoint all Irish coaches but we wanted to get what is best for Munster and as it turns out that’s what we’ve ended up with.”

The CEO went on to credit the high standard of domestic coaching, and how it’s culminated in Munster’s new coaching team:

“We have a unique situation here; in not only appointing all Irish coaches, we are extremely proud to appoint coaches that have learned their trade within the province. It is a reflection of the level of coaches on offer in Irish Rugby.

“With Anthony at the helm we look forward to seeing this group work together in achieving success for Munster Rugby.”

The Corkman also spoke about the province’s building projects in both Limerick in Cork, explaining why Munster’s new training facility at UL has been delayed by 6 months:

“We revisited the actual floor space of the facility. Having reviewed it and looked at other training facilities we decided we needed to redesign it a little, so that delayed the approach to it. It is due to be submitted for planning this month with a view to it being ready, probably, in January ‘16 or around the middle of the 2015/16 season.”

The new facility will become Munster’s sole training base, replacing the current twin-base training system of Limerick and Cork, allowing the squad train for up to four additional hours each week.

Fitzgerald added that work is about to commence on the redevelopment of Musgrave Park, with the new stand due for completion by December

Regarding squad news, the Munster CEO confirmed that Munster have completed their signings for the coming season with Brumbies centre Adam Smith, Crusaders out-half/centre Tyler Bleyendaal and Cardiff Blues back row Robin Copeland all lining out for Munster next season.

Meanwhile centre James Downey is to leave the province. Downey joined from Northampton Saints and went on to win 47 caps for Munster, making his Heineken Cup debut against Racing Metro in October 2012 at the Stade de France during the pool stages of the competition.