New Leinster regime beckons with Lions tamer Kidney

A new coach, a new backroom staff and a new name for the Leinster rugby team.

“Leinster have formally deleted ‘Lions’ from their name and henceforth wish to be known as Leinster Rugby.”

A simple yet significant statement from the branch.

Rivalry between Leinster and Munster has always been intense and, in Kidney’s time as Munster coach, Liam, the Lions’ fluffy mascot, was always guaranteed to fire up the rugged southerners to good effect.

Doing away with the Lions tag is the first sign of Kidney’s determination to get back-to-basics in his new role as Leinster’s leader.

For, despite boasting a team crammed with internationals, including Ireland’s golden pair of Brian O’Driscoll and Gordon D’Arcy, on big European days the Lions have played like pussycats.

In 2003, they seemed destined for the trophy after being handed home draws for all the knock-out stages. Yet, they exited tamely to Perpignan in the semi-final at a packed Lansdowne Road and last season did not even qualify from their pool.

Consequently, Leinster have gained the tag of underachievers although, in typical loyal fashion, this was disputed by their new coach.

“That’s a word that’s been bandied about but who is anybody to say what other people should do with their lives?”

Leinster’s off-field antics have not helped. After winning the Celtic League in 2001/2002, the trophy went missing during a celebratory drinking session in well-known rugby watering hole Kiely’s of Donnybrook. There were stories of players turning up drunk to training and internationals trying to get out of playing Celtic League fixtures. We also had Gordon D’Arcy’s ill-judged decision to print the words ‘South side’ on his boots, which did nothing to alter Dublin rugby’s elitist image.

The signing of Felipe Contepomi last season was supposed to end their problems at out-half but the Argentinian’s registration was bungled, ruling him out of Heineken Cup action.

Then, coach Gary Ella resigned after squad members spoke (anonymously) of their dissatisfaction with him in the press.

Before returning to Australia, Ella spoke about the lack of professionalism in the squad and how his position was rendered impossible by the apathy of some his ‘star’ players.

In Kidney they have a man who will not tolerate prima-donnas and the ditching of the Lions tag is indicative of his no-nonsense approach.

Yet, the branch say that despite the money spent marketing the brand name over the past three seasons, the decision was taken at committee level.

“This was not Declan Kidney’s decision,” said branch PRO Peter Breen.

“We felt, with a new coach and backroom staff, we needed a fresh approach. This was a branch decision.

“Although we did market the Lions brand vigorously, the Leinster symbol has always been, and will continue to be, the harp and we are happy to revert to simply being Leinster Rugby.”

And what of Liam?

“I suspect we will still see Liam the Lion at Leinster matches because the kids always enjoy him.”

In Munster, they know the true worth of Declan Kidney and there is a genuine fear down south that he will achieve with Leinster what he came agonisingly close to achieving with Munster - Heineken Cup glory.

Ironically, although no longer known as Lions, the Leinster boys may now begin to play like them.