McGahan: Flannery has big future in coaching

Munster coach Tony McGahan has backed Jerry Flannery for a successful coaching career following the Ireland hooker’s decision to retire from professional rugby due to injury.

Flannery, 33, yesterday announced his decision to call time on a career that brought him two Heineken Cup winners’ medals with Munster in 2006 and 2008 and a Grand Slam with Ireland in 2009, having failed to overcome calf and back problems that restricted the Limerick man to just eight appearances for his province in the last three seasons.

The future, though, looks bright for Flannery as he continues a masters degree in sports performance at the University of Limerick and if the former front rower decides to pursue a coaching career after 94 appearances for Munster and 41 Ireland caps, McGahan said yesterday he had all the attributes.