FOLLOWING the exclusive online story, broken by Limerick Post last Thuirsday that Rob Penney was to leave Munster at the end of the current season, Munster CEO Garrett Fitzgerald explained this week the timeline of events which lead to the shock departure of the New Zealand native.
“Obviously, it is a business we are in and people have to look after their careers, their careers are based around short-term and fixed termed contracts and Rob has his own, I suppose. He has to look at his long-term security, his family, some of his family are in New Zealand.
“We had been chatting on it and he made a decision and I was aware he was considering other options and, as we are aware in the current climate that the money in rugby is in Japan and in France but he has got the opportunity, without knowing the detail, of a three year contract in Japan, which takes him nearer to home, nearer to some of his family who had remained at home and we respect the decision.”
Penney, who had signed a two year contract with the option of third had intimated to the media only last Tuesday that he would like to stay at Munster. When asked whether Rob Penney came back to the negotiating table stating he was leaving or looking to renegotiate his current Munster deal for a longer term, Munster CEO Fitzgerald replied,
“To be fair, I wouldn’t go into the personal details of what was said in those situations, but Rob did consider everything that we had on offer and basically he had another attractive offer which suited him and I would leave it at that”
The process now begins to find a successor. With the timing of Penney’s departure not ideal for Munster, Fitzgerald is looking to appoint a new head coach within the next four weeks.
The appointment of the replacement for Penney will be conducted by the Munster Professional Games Committee, with the final say on who gets the top job being rubber stamped by the IRFU. (The IRFU makes a large contribution to the salaries of the head coaches of each province)
When asked about the possibility of the new coach being appointed from within, Anthony Foley, Fitzgerald was quick to praise the former Munster number eight.
“The last time [Munster recruited a head coach], when we had the ‘worldwide’ search, Anthony Foley was in the last three for interviews and did very well at the time.
“He’s worked exceptionally well with other coaches here, with Tony (McGahan) and with Rob and he’s worked at national level and gotten much more experience and he’s getting wiser all the time.”
“If you asked me the question, ‘when is a person sufficiently experienced?’ You never know that.
“Anthony will get the head coach position, whether it is here or whether he has offers elsewhere, that’s something you have to take into account. Anthony certainly has the experience at Wolfhounds, national level at U-20 level with us, A level and with the senior team.”
With Foley looking as a shoe in for most, Fitzgerald was asked if he felt the pressure, that should Munster decide to appoint another coach, they would lose Foley from the province.
“There isn’t any pressure on. You have to approach it in a professional, practical, open fashion in what’s best for Munster. If you personalise it, you’re losing the run of the business side of it. There’s a risk of losing people in this business every day of the week. There’s offers in for people every day of the week. I dealt with two or three players this morning who have counter offers and they have our offers. You win some, you lose some. You have to get the best person for the job and if we didn’t appoint the best person for the job, we’d get criticised.”
With Munster top of the RaboDirect Pro12 and having secured a home quarter final in the Heineken Cup, the man who comes ‘in for a Penney’ will have a massive act to follow. It appears, only a Munster ‘legend’ will be afforded the time to rebuild once more.
Munster face Zebre in the RaboDirect Pro12 at Musgrave Park this Saturday (6.45pm) where Tommy O’Donnell and Felix Jones are expected to return from Ireland camp in search of game time. If Donncha O’Callaghan features this weekend, which is expected, the Cork Con club player is set to become Munster’s most capped player ever.
Anthony Foley
THE current forwards and defence coach, Foley was interviewed for the position when Tony Mc Gahan left for Australia. If experience was the reason ‘Axel’ missed out last time, he has had two successful years since. Having had some Irish national and Wolfhound experience in the interim, it is hard to see past the former Munster number 8 this time.
Odds: 4/11
Mike Ruddock
RUDDOCK is the current coach of Lansdowne and the Irish under 20’s side. The Welsh native, former Grand Slam winner with Wales, is a name that has not really been mentioned before in terms of Irish provinces. The Welsh native’s ability to work with young players could see him as a target for Munster’s youthful squad.
Odds: 8/1
Ian Costello
THE current skills coach’s stock is rising at a phenomenal rate. Should Foley not make the grade for any reason, the squad’s next choice would be the former Munster ‘A’ coach and UL Bohemian Director of Rugby.
Odds: 9/1
NOW at UCC as head of sport, former Munster and Ireland coach Declan Kidney might have some involvement in the new set up, however it is hard to see the former school teacher come back for a third instalment as head coach.
Odds: 8/1
Ronan O’Gara
THE Munster ‘legend’ has ruled himself out of the job for now, but has expressed interest in becoming the backs coach at some point. The very fact that O’Gara has ruled himself out means that he might just be in the race.
Odds: 10/1
DEANS is the former Australian national team coach who made his name by making the Canterbury Crusaders one of the most powerful teams in the Super 15. Munster went to Canterbury in search of Penney. Will they go there again?
Odds: 16/1
ANOTHER former Ireland coach who may well be in the mix. Eddie, currently advising Garryowen in the All Ireland league, would be a coach whose knowledge of the game is unquestioned. The issue for O’Sullivan however might be that his time out of the game has left him behind the eight ball in terms of securing a high profile top job.
Odds: 20/1
Conor O’Shea
THE Munster native is one of the names that all Munster fans favour. Even though O’Shea is committed to Harlequins the lure of the Munster job might be too hard to turn down for the former Irish international.
Odds: 25/1
Brian Mc Laughlin
ULSTER rugby let Mc Laughlin leave Ravenhill after he had guided them to a Heineken Cup final, Defeating Munster Rugby along the way. He has massive experience at this level and could even be a member of the Foley ticket.
Odds: 50/1
