Kidney ponders next move

DECLAN KIDNEY will not rush into a decision about his future after yesterday's announcement by the IRFU that his contract as assistant coach of the Irish team will not be renewed when it expires in July.

The news broke on the day that the job of Ulster coach became vacant, one of the options the Cork man may consider along with reported opportunities from leading English Premiership clubs, Leicester and Saracens.

However, the Union has offered him a new post titled 'Performance Manager Age Grade Rugby' which is aimed at the further development of the country's elite players between the ages of 18 and 21, so that will also occupy his thoughts over the coming weeks.

While this situation has been brewing for some time, it has still come as something as a shock to Kidney, one of the most respected coaches in the world game.

He expressed "disappointment" at not having his contract renewed and will now combine the considerations of his options with helping to prepare the Irish team for the remaining four matches in the Six Nations Championship. Ireland also have a two Test tour to South Africa in June.

"While obviously disappointed by my current contract not being renewed, I appreciate the offer of this new position from the Union", he said in a statement.

"However, the offer in question is not a coaching position as such, therefore while considering it, I will now be looking at all options open to me. In the meantime, I will, as usual, be concentrating on fulfilling my obligations to the best of my ability in the best interest of the team."

Confirmation that Kidney no longer fits into the Union's plans came with a statement from Lansdowne Road yesterday that the Union was announcing "the creation of a new role in the development of young Irish players which has been offered to Declan Kidney."

It explained: "The 'Performance Manager' Age Grade Rugby' is a critical new position identified by the Union for the development process of players in the age groups from school leaving to 21 years. The role is seen by the IRFU as a key driving force within the sub-professional level and the principal interface between the Rugby Development and the National Age-Grade pathway and structures."

Absorbing the content of all that doesn't come very easy and if anything is further complicated by what follows next!

"The Performance Manager Age Grade Rugby is required to design, develop and implement plans, process, strategies and systems to ensure Ireland excels at Age Grade levels, ie, Under 18 Youth, Under 18 Schools, Under 19 Rugby World Cup and Under 21 Six Nations and Rugby World Cup.

"In addition, the Performance Manager Age Grade Rugby would also plan for the growth and development of qualified and successful indigenous coaches to focus on the specific needs of National Age Grade rugby teams in conjunction with the National Coach Development Manager."

The union's chief executive Philip Browne stated that they saw "an urgent need" for a Performance Manager in age-grade rugby in order to provide leadership, direction and technical expertise in the implementation of a plan which is designed in line with supporting sub-professional pathways and systems that meet the objectives and goals contained within the Union's Strategic Plan."

Interestingly, Mr Browne added that "Declan would, of course, always be considered for any front line coaching role that might become available in Irish rugby and in which he was interested."

Given that he is above all a hands-on coach, a point he made clear in his statement yesterday and that Ulster simultaneously lost Alan Solomons to Northampton, it can be assumed that a move to Ravenhill is an option to which Kidney could give serious consideration as he mulls over a very regrettable dilemma.

Leaks and innuendos have helped to make it all happen, the insinuations being that coach Eddie O'Sullivan and Kidney were unable to get on having been thrown together on the dismissal of Warren Gatland towards the end of 2001.

O'Sullivan clearly wanted to carry out the job on his own, a view supported by yesterday's revelation that he "has no plans at this present time to fill the position of assistant coach".

It is now more likely that forwards coach Niall O'Donovan will have an even bigger role in the preparation of the national side from next season.

Accepting the newly created post as outlined yesterday may have some appeal for a man who started his coaching career with the junior players at Presentation Brothers, Cork back in the late '70s but that now seems so long ago in every respect.

Kidney further developed his talents with his club, Dolphin, before coaching Ireland Schools and under 19 team that won the FIRA World Cup in 1998 and the Ireland A team to its first Triple Crown in 2000.

Word of his rare qualities rang around the rugby world when he took over as Munster supremo in 1996, leading them to two Heineken Cup finals and a Celtic League decider and to a point where they became one of the most organised and best supported teams in the game.