Kidney closes in on Ireland job as Mitchell rules himself out

DECLAN KIDNEY is Ireland head coach-designate after John Mitchell admitted he turned down overtures from IRFU powerbrokers to succeed Eddie O’Sullivan.

Mitchell, along with Kidney and Jake White, were shortlisted by the IRFU committee of Neilly Jackson, Noel Murphy and Pa Whelan entrusted with finding the new Ireland coach.

White’s presence in Dublin last weekend saw the 2007 World Cup winning coach become the bookmakers favourite after thousands were suddenly laid on him.