Kidney on list as successor to Solomons

IRELAND assistant coach Declan Kidney could be bound for Belfast to take over as Director of Rugby at Ulster.

The province’s hierarchy began the serious search for a successor to departing Alan Solomons with a series of interviews in Dublin yesterday, and it’s strongly rumoured that Kidney has allowed his name to go forward for the position.

The news was revealed yesterday by the BBC website but remained unconfirmed by either the Ulster Branch or Kidney, who will see out his Irish contract until the end of the season and who could not be contacted.

Other candidates said to be on the list are Mark McCall, Willie Anderson, Brian McLaughlin and Connacht’s John McKee, assistant to Michael Bradley.

Kidney would be unlikely to put his name into the hat unless he knew the job was his. The Corkman will not have his international contract renewed at the end of the present Six Nations campaign.

The IRFU attempted to placate Kidney by offering him a role to head the country’s elite talent under the title of Performance manager, Age Grade Rugby.

It is believed he was not enamoured with a job away from hands-on coaching.

The main rival for the Ulster position would appear to be former international Mark McCall who was assistant to Alan Solomons for two years.

Anderson, currently forwards coach with Leinster, is another former international, while McLaughlin is a former Irish under-21 coach and presently head of PE at Royal Belfast Academical Institution.

McCall would have been seen as favourite before the apparent news of Kidney’s interest. Present coach of the Ireland under-21 side, McCall was Solomons’ choice to take over but the South African is unlikely to have a major say in who succeeds him.

Anderson, who played for Ulster during their glory years two decades ago, is presently assistant coach at Leinster.

He was interviewed for the job three years ago, and after many years at Dungannon guided them to All-Ireland League glory in 2000.

McLaughlin, who coached Instonians, Malone, and currently Ballynahinch is used extensively by Irish coach Eddie O’Sullivan in respect to continuity work with the Ireland forwards.

McLaughlin has guided RBAI to six Ulster Schools’ Cup finals since he moved to Belfast in the mid-90s.

However, he would appear to be behind Kidney and McCall for the job which becomes available from the end of May.

If the Ulster Branch are satisfied with the person who has the right credentials, they are likely to make an appointment by the end of the week.

Meanwhile, Robbie Kempson is to leave Ulster to link up with coach Solomons at English Premiership side Northampton.

“It was a difficult decision to make. Everyone in the province has been brilliant,” said the South African prop. “But rugby is a business at the end of the day and moving to Northampton is what I have to do.”