Kidney takes job at UCC

Former Ireland coach, Declan Kidney, has been appointed to the post of Director of Sport and Physical Activity at University College Cork.

He will start his job there in September.

Kidney, who is an alumnus of UCC, was an accounting and mathematics teacher and careers guidance officer at Presentation Brothers College, Cork, before his Munster coaching stint.

He won the Heineken Cup with Munster in 2006 and 2008 and had a brief tenure with Leinster before his Grand Slam and Triple Crown success with Ireland.

He was named International Rugby Board Coach of the Year in 2009 and has been recipient of the Phillips Sports Manager of the Year award on three separate occasions.

Dr Ian Pickup, Head of the Student Experience at UCC said: "We pride ourselves on providing a world class student experience at UCC and Declan brings a wealth of world class experience to this role.

"We encourage all of our students to embrace the healthy mind, healthy body philosophy and UCC is fast developing a programme that offers something for everyone. I have no doubt that Declan will provide exceptional leadership in all areas and at all levels of sport development, and we are very excited about UCC’s sporting future."

Kidney said: "I am really looking forward to working with the staff in the Department of Sport and Physical Activity, and to learn from the Coaches and Managers of the 60 Clubs that at present are in existence in UCC.

"I firmly believe in a holistic approach to education and see physical activity, be it at the highest elite level or participating just for fun, to be an integral part of this experience."

The college has extensive sporting facilities at the Mardyke Arena, and has further plans to develop outdoor sports grounds on the western outskirts of the city at Curraheen.