Munster coach shortlist this week

MUNSTER plan to finalise a shortlist of candidates to replace coach Tony McGahan by the end of this week.

A special committee, under chair John Hartery and including former wing John Kelly, is also hoping to have a recommendation for the position by the middle of April.

“We’d be disappointed if we hadn’t our work done by that stage,” said a well-placed source.

That timeframe, though, may depend on the identity and location of some candidates, and whether they are competitively involved in the Super 15 in the southern hemisphere.

Scrum-half Tomás O’Leary’s future may not be in province, but he is not short of an offer from elsewhere, according to his agent Niall Woods. Mr Woods confirmed yesterday there are two suitors still keen on the No 9’s signature, both of them French clubs. One of those is Perpignan, who remain sweet on O’Leary, despite erroneous reports they had withdrawn their offer in favour of 28-year old ex-Wallaby Josh Valentine, currently plying his trade with Narbonne.

“We should have a resolution within days,” confirmed Woods. However, as things stand, there is no longer a Munster offer on the table for O’Leary.

The province has also appointed a new sales and marketing manager to replace the departing Glyn Billinghurst. Enda Lynch, a native of Tralee, will begin his duties next week having previously been sponsorship manager at Telefonica O2 Ireland, where he was heavily involved in the company’s relationship with the IRFU.

Meanwhile Munster have recalled prop Peter Borlase for the remainder of the season from his loan period with Connacht.

The 26-year old has not played for Munster this season and Connacht were expecting to have him available for the remainder of the campaign after he moved to the Sportsground on loan last month.