‘Time not right’ for Gibbes to step up

Jono Gibbes spoke yesterday about his ambitions to become a head coach one day — possibly at Leinster — but not before he furthers his education as an assistant to Matt O’Connor, who will replace Joe Schmidt as top dog in the province this summer.

Gibbes confirmed he gave considerable thought to handing his CV in to Leinster chief Mick Dawson when Schmidt took up the offer to replace Ireland head coach Declan Kidney, but decided against on the basis of counsel sought.

“I felt that I’m still a young coach and could learn something off [O’Connor] as well. So, yeah, my ambition is to progress as high as I can as a coach. Whether that’s head coach or not in club or Test rugby, timing-wise it wasn’t this time right now.”