Callard withdrawal a blow as Leinster search for coach

LEINSTER last night insisted they were within a few days of appointing a successor to Matt Williams after former England full-back Jon Callard turned down the opportunity to coach the province.

In a statement issued after a day of wild speculation, the Leinster Branch denied any appointment for the post had been decided upon, but they did admit Callard had indicated that he was not in a position to take up the job.

"Of the many quality candidates for the head coach position there are three short listed, all eminently suitable," said chairman of the provincial team management committee Brian McLoughlin.

"Jonathan Callard is the only candidate to indicate his non-availability to us. We would hope to finalise the selection process shortly."

That news of Callard's unavailability, however, comes as a massive blow to Leinster as the former Bath coach was the number one choice to fill the vacant position, and according to sources, had actually accepted the job before changing his mind at the last minute.

The current assistant coach at Leeds Tykes, Callard also coached England during last month's U21 World Cup in Oxford and he was believed to have impressed the four-man committee charged with filling the position Leinster Branch chief executive Mike Dawson, IRFU director of rugby Eddie Wigglesworth, chairman of the Irish management committee John Hussey and Brian McLoughlin during an interview in England last Thursday.

However, in a statement issued yesterday through his club, Callard insisted he was not yet ready to take on a role as big as the Leinster job this early in his career.

"I am flattered to be linked with the Leinster job but I feel it is too soon in my career to take on such a role," said Callard.

"There is still lots for me to learn and develop in my coaching career and the job has not been done here at Leeds yet, hopefully I can be part of seeing that through."

Callard's decision to turn down the job is a severe setback to Leinster, coming as it does just days after another prominent candidate decided to take up a different position.

Former Stade Francais and Swansea coach John Connolly was confirmed as director of rugby at Bath on Tuesday, and although the Australian was not believed to be the number one target of the Leinster Branch, sources have indicated that he would have been next in line for the job.

Now the Leinster Branch have to choose between two candidates for the post. Former South African number two Tim Lane and Ballymena and Ireland scrum coach Tony D'Arcy are believed to be in contention for the job, although there is speculation that New Zealand U21 coach Bryce Woodward is also being considered.

Lane has perhaps the best credentials for the job, although the fact that he has never coached in Europe may hinder the Australian's prospects.

D'Arcy is already involved in the international set-up as a consultant scrum coach, but as the current Ballymena boss is ostensibly a forwards coach his appointment would create difficulties as Willie Anderson had been expected to remain in that position for the province over the coming season.

As for Woodward, the appointment of a coach with little experience of senior players would be regarded as a huge gamble.

A number of prominent Leinster players met with branch officials last night to discuss the situation and to decide on the next course of action.

The players are believed to be happy with the quality of coach remaining on the short-list, but with the non-international players of the province already back in training since July 1, all parties are keen to install a new coach as soon as is physically possible.