There’s no local coach shortage, says Fitzgerald

THE capture of former ACT Brumbies and Australia A head coach Laurie Fisher may be described as a huge coup for Munster, but it brought into sharp focus the dearth of indigenous coaching talent coming through the professional provincial system in Ireland — or those willing to forego a steady job for the insecure world of professional coaching.

Munster chief executive Garrett Fitzgerald is confident there are enough Irish-born coaches on the ground, especially in Munster where he mentioned the achievements of Dave O’Mahony, Brian Walsh and Brian Hickey — all of whom are currently working outside the professional set up.

Fitzgerald admitted he’d like to see more Irish coaches working in the professional provinces, but said but it’s a difficult system in Ireland.