Old hero Holland named Munster backs coach

JASON HOLLAND is the new Munster backs coach after head coach Tony McGahan completed the make-up of his back room team yesterday, while the Australian also made several key appointments within the provincial coaching structure.

New Zealand-born Holland played in two Heineken Cup finals (2000 and 2002), and won 102 Munster caps, holding down the first centre position while also filling in at out half on occasion.

He has also worked as player/coach at AIL level with his adopted east Cork club, Midleton, and was hotly-tipped to take on a senior coaching role with Munster for the coming season.

Last season Holland worked as video analyst in Declan Kidney’s management team, but now the Kiwi takes on a more senior role and will work closely alongside McGahan and new forwards coach, Laurie Fisher.

Mossy Lawlor, who retired from professional rugby at the end of last season, fills the role vacated by

Holland.

Jerry Holland has stepped down as Team Manager but will remain on as a consultant to the senior team management. Shaun Payne is the new Team Manager.

But McGahan and Munster chief executive, Garrett Fitzgerald, are determined to cultivate indigenous coaching talent with several recognised AIL coaches and recently-retired players taking up roles within the provincial coaching structure for next season.

Anthony Foley retired at the end of last season after winning 201 caps for his province and is earmarked to become a future Munster head coach.

He is the new Technical Advisor to the senior squad, while also fulfilling several other roles within the provincial coaching structure. He assumes the role of forwards coach to Munster A and will assist Ian Costello at under-20 level and work with the Munster Academy players.

Highly regarded Cork Con head coach, Brian Walsh, will work alongside Foley at Munster A level while Ian Sherwin will act as team manager.

2006 Heineken Cup winner, John Kelly, who retired last December, and Churchill Cup assistant and Dolphin head coach Dave O’Mahony will jointly coach the Munster Schools under-19s. 2007 AIL and AIB Cup-winning coach with Garryowen, Paul Cunningham, will assist Kelly and O’Mahony at this important age grade level.

Former Clonakilty out-half Terry Dillon takes charge of the Munster under-19 development squad, with Graham Burns acting as squad manager.

“I think it’s very important for the future of Munster Rugby to have the right people in place at the various levels,” said McGahan. “I am particularly delighted to see former players join with existing AIB League coaches in the management structures and I believe it augurs well for the future of the senior squad and for rugby in the province.

“With Laurie (Fisher) in place since the middle of July, our coaching structure is now complete and we can look forward to the challenges ahead.”

The first of those challenges comes in just three weeks, when Munster face the US Eagles in Rentschler Field in Hartford, Connecticut (August 23) and that game is followed by a clash with London Irish at Musgrave Park

(August 29), a week before they open their Magners League campaign against Edinburgh in Murrayfield.

Munster management 2008/09:

SENIOR: Head coach/Defence Coach: Tony McGahan; Assistant/Forwards coach: Laurie Fisher; Backs Coach: Jason Holland; Head of Fitness/

Conditioning: Paul Darbyshire; Technical Advisor: Anthony Foley; Manager: Shaun Payne; Senior Management Consultant: Jerry Holland; Video Analyst: Mossy Lawlor.

MUNSTER A: Coaches: Anthony Foley and Brian Walsh; Manager: Ian Sherwin.

MUNSTER UNDER-20s: Coach: Ian Costello; Assistant Coach: Anthony Foley.

MUNSTER SCHOOLS UNDER-19s: Coaches: John Kelly and Dave O’Mahony; Assistant coach: Paul Cunningham; Manager: Damien Philpott (PBC).

MUNSTER UNDER-19 DEVELOPMENT SQUAD: Head Coach: Terry Dillon; Manager: Graham Burns