Players Move ‘Upstairs’.

Three players who retired from the senior squad at the end of last season – Anthony Foley, Mossy Lawlor and John Kelly – will remain involved with Munster at various levels.

Foley (34) who won his 201st Munster cap when he captained the side in the final Magners League game last season against Glasgow Warriors will act as Technical Advisor to the senior squad while assuming the role of Assistant Coach to the Munster U20 side and Forwards coach of the Munster A side. Foley will also be involved with the Munster Academy players.

Jason Holland (102 Munster caps) will be the Backs coach to the senior squad and the position he vacates as Video Analyst will be filled by Mossy Lawlor who retired at the end of last season having won 69 senior caps.

Although Jerry Holland has stepped down as Team Manager – Shaun Payne taking over – he will remain on as a consultant to senior team management. 

In keeping with their policy of developing indigenous coaches, Ian Costello continues as coach of the U20s while Cork Con’s Brian Walsh joins Foley on the Munster A ticket with Ian Sherwin as Team Manager.

Dolphin’s Dave O’Mahony coaches the Munster Schools U19 with 155 times capped John Kelly and Paul Cunningham (Garryowen)  as his assistants and Damien Philpott (PBC) team manager.

Former Clonakilty out-half Terry Dillon takes charge of the Munster U19 Development Squad with Graham Burns the squad Manager.

Speaking of the appointments Tony McGahan said, ” I think it’s very important for the future of Munster Rugby to have the right people in place at the various levels. I am particularly delighted to see former players join with existing AIB League coaches in the management structures and I believe it augurs well for the future of the senior squad and for rugby in the province.

“With Laurie (Fisher) in place since the middle of this month our coaching structure is now complete and we can look forward to the challenges ahead.”

The first of those challenges comes in just three weeks time when Munster face the US Eagles in Rentschler Field in Hartford, Connecticut (Aug 23rd) and that game is followed by a clash with London Irish at Musgrave Park (August 29th), a week before they open their Magners League campaign against Edinburgh in Murrayfield.