Fitzgerald: No rush, we need to get it right

Munster Rugby chief executive Garrett Fitzgerald insists the race to succeed Tony McGahan as the province’s director of coaching will not be a “personality competition”.

Fitzgerald told The Irish Examiner last night the two-time Heineken Cup champions were in no rush to appoint a successor to McGahan, who leaves Munster at the end of the season to return to his native Australia for a likely new role as Wallabies defence coach.

The chief executive, speaking before last night’s RaboDirect Pro12 game at Thomond Park against Cardiff Blues, also said McGahan’s decision to turn down a contract extension with Munster had not come as a surprise and that whoever replaced the Australian would be taking on a challenging, stressful job, the pay off being associated with an “internationally recognised brand”.