Kiss’s lips sealed on Munster job
A former rugby league international with Australia’s Kangaroos, Kiss began his coaching career in the 13-man code before switching to union, where he has also worked with the New South Wales Waratahs, three South African Super Rugby franchises and the Springboks.
His input as defence coach was accredited as one of the chief reasons Declan Kidney’s national side achieved the Grand Slam in the 2009 and his name has been touted as a possible dark horse for the hot seat at Thomond Park.
“I haven’t even thought about it,” the 47-year old said at the daily Irish press conference in advance of tomorrow’s Six Nations game against Italy.
“All my focus has been on this one. We have got four tests in-a-row and that is key for me.”
Kiss has been employed by the IRFU since 2008, initially on a three-year deal which was due to expire at the conclusion of last year’s Rugby World Cup.
However, like Kidney, Gert Smal and Mark Tainton, Kiss signed on the dotted line again prior to the tournament in New Zealand, penning a contract that runs up through to the end of the 2012/’13 season.
His insistence that nothing can or will distract from the Six Nations campaign at hand extends to the players who, Kiss said, had not been discussing events in Munster and Ulster – where Brian McLaughlin will also leave come the summer.
“This is now the time of the year when there is turnover in coaches and players and it’s something, as professional sport keeps evolving, you get used to,” said Ulster and Ireland hooker Rory Best.
“Unfortunately now it’s part and parcel of the professional game, players coming and going and coaches coming and going and it’s something, rightly or wrongly, everyone has got used to and everyone adapts to. I wouldn’t say you don’t bat an eyelid at it but you hear about it, you listen to it and everyone has their own emotions about it, and then you move on and get on with your job.”
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