MUNSTER CEO GARRET Fitzgerald insists it was not the province’s intention to appoint an all-Irish coaching ticket, but he is pleased the pool of talent has allowed him to do so.
The southern province yesterday confirmed the installation of Brian Walsh, Ian Costello and Jerry Flannery in support of head coach Anthony Foley. And Fitzgerald today moved to highlight that the men hired were the best available, not just the best Munster men available.
“We looked extensively at who was available,” Fitzgerald told Limerick’s Live 95 FM at Munster’s UL training base today.
“In professional rugby worldwide, the number of players, coaches and everybody available is quite small, because the whole professional rugby market is very small.
“That’s how we ended up in that situation. It was never policy to take on all Irish coaches, we wanted what was best for Munster and, as it turns out, that’s what we’ve ended up with.”
The reason the situation has come about, Fitzgerald says, is merely the growing amount of time that professionalism has had on the game on these shores.
“We’re fortunate enough, with the growth and length of time professional rugby has been there, that some of the past players are coming aboard and are available.
“None of these people were available before,” said the CEO presumably pointing at Foley’s assistants rather than the new head coach himself.
“The good [coaches] that were available before within the country normally had employment – you might say, more dependable employment. In Irish rugby there are only a few employers and people are conscious of their security.
“But now we have a different type of individual becoming available because they’ve had their rugby career, they’ve entered into businesses that they own and run themselves and they’re more available.
“The big reason is that we now have more Irish people capable of doing these jobs which weren’t available before.”
Interview courtesy of Limerick’s LIve95FM. Listen live here.
The statement appears like a ‘pre-emptive’ panic strike to shore up against the tidal wave of disapproval that’s headed toward the Munster Branch and its lack of a long term vision. These are the only quality coaches available? They were quality players..what’s on their quality coaching CV’s? What’s Munster rugby’s long term plan to develop talent from the schools up? How many of the current players have gone through the Munster Academy? How much money is in the bank? How long have the current people running Munster Rugby been asleep at their desks? Why was Penney’s contract not extended to complete a four year cycle?
“But now we have a different type of individual becoming available because they’ve had their rugby career, they’ve entered into businesses that they own and run themselves and they’re more available.” Are they working pro bono?
I really do hope Fitzgerald means what he says and that these were the very best candidates for the respective roles, and that they didn’t just take the easy option by picking former stalwarts like O’Driscoll and Flannery. On the plus side going forward, by selecting from within, at least there should be clarity of purpose and a clear game plan which all the players buy into, which has been a problem over the last two seasons.
Straight back to Munster of old, when we needed a new Munster.
Jerry flannery was a quality hooker and I assume he will be forwards coach but he has been a strength and fitness coach for arsenal bar talking in irish about the game on tg4 he has been immersed in soccer.
Walsh is having a huge step up from cork con.
Foley is going to be under huge pressure to perform in his first year after Munster more or less got rid of penny so foley could get a promotion, so I would of thought he would of had a proven top quality backs coach to support him.
I can’t see it but I really hope that the coaching staff are the right ones for Munster.
Yes what top level coaching has flannery, has he ever coached at any serious level ?? Serious question .minster does seem to have that Jon for the nous mentality ,let’s hope it works
Lol
Just because somebody has been a good player, does not automatically mean that they will be a world class coach (as Mr Fitzgerald seems to think). It requires two very different skill sets and characteristics.
There have been numerous examples of high-profile players, in the history of rugby and other sports, turning into very underwhelming and inadequate coaches.
He’s is a muppet munster branch should ditch Fitzgerald
If this works out in the same as Mark McCall at Ulster who is going to be held accountable? Seems to me too many rugby officials do not any accountability. How should CEO of branches and IRFU be held accountable for their appointments?