O’Donovan named Munster manager

Niall O’Donovan was yesterday welcomed back into the Munster fold as team manager on a two-year contract.

The experienced O’Donovan takes over from Shaun Payne, who returned home to South Africa after several years with Munster as a player and official.

O’Donovan’s expertise as a coach made him an obvious choice to succeed Payne. He was assistant Munster coach for a number of seasons until 2002 before he moved on, as forwards coach with Ireland.

In more recent times he acted as team manager and forwards coach to the Munster British and Irish Cup squad who contested the inaugural final and won the title with a win over Cross Keys.