McGahan rejected Force offer

Outgoing Munster director of coaching Tony McGahan will not be coaching Super XV outfit Western Force next season when he returns to his native Australia, the Queenslander has confirmed.

McGahan was officially unveiled as the Wallabies’ coaching co-ordinator by the Australian Rugby Union yesterday in a three-man backroom team for head coach Robbie Deans.

But in explaining his decision to quit Munster after four seasons at the helm and join the reigning Tri-Nations champions, he said becoming the Western Force’s boss would not be part of his remit.

Confirming he had rejected an approach from the Perth-based Super Rugby franchise to replace the departed Richard Graham as head coach next year, McGahan said: “I was flattered, but I have enough on my plate. The major reason I accepted the job was to work with Robbie Deans in the Wallabies environment. The abilities of the group and where they can get to were alluring prospects.

“We have been away for a certain length of time and it was an opportunity to get back home.”

Deans held a media conference in Sydney on Monday alongside his two other appointees, forwards coach Andrew Blades and skills coach Nick Scrivener and he spoke of the opportunities the incoming trio would provide for him to focus on more rugby-related matters than organisational.

“Hopefully, it will free me up to concentrate on rugby content,” Deans said. “One of the advantages of Tony is that with his head coaching background he will have a great understanding of the things I need. He’ll be another pair of hands to help me with ... the logistical stuff.”

As for Deans, he would be free to focus on “point-of-difference stuff around strategy, around interaction with the playing group, advancing our ability to lead whether it be designated leaders or individuals within the team itself is key for us. We’ve got a young group, which has experience on their shoulders. We’ve got to increase their capacity to drive processes and outcomes.”

McGahan’s decision to return to Australia has also received the blessing of his mother, Marion McGahan, who told Queensland newspaper the Sunshine Coast Daily: “Tony has worked long hours in Ireland to prove himself as a coach. I believe he is a hard taskmaster and has experienced a lot of success with Munster. Munster had a two-year offer on the table for Tony since September last year and wanted him to stay.

“It will be great to have Tony, his wife Libby and their three children home.”