Gaffney in talks on future as Munster coach

THE Munster Branch of the IRFU were last night locked in contract discussions with coach Alan Gaffney.

Gaffney’s three-year deal is up at the end of this season but Munster have, apparently, offered him an extension.

The discussions became more urgent yesterday following speculation that the Australian Rugby Union had offered him a coaching position.

Last week Gaffney withdrew his application for a coaching position with the Perth Super 14 rugby franchises shortly before a conference call.

Former All Blacks coach John Mitchell subsequently was named as coach.

The Munster Branch are keen to retain the services of a man who stepped easily into the void created by the departure of Declan Kidney.

Meanwhile, France captain Fabien Pelous has been forbidden to playing in the tsunami rugby aid match this Saturday by his club Stade Toulousain.

The 30-year-old was due to head the quintet of French players called up by Clive Woodward for the northern v southern hemisphere match at Twickenham, but his club president Jean-Rene Bouscatel has ruled him out.

“Our team has a very important championship match with Biarritz on Saturday. As a result we have decided not to release any of our players,” said Bouscatel.

“We only got to know about his being selected through the press, no official request came our way,” added the Toulouse supremo, who is nevertheless, along with his players, contributing to a fund for the victims.