Foley to pack down with Munster for another year

Munster have tied down the services of forwards coach Anthony Foley for another season, ending speculation the 2006 Heineken Cup-winning captain was set to join Joe Schmidt’s Ireland management team on a full-time basis.

Foley has been on secondment with the Irish camp under Declan Kidney, serving as a temporary forwards coach last November during a medical absence for Gert Smal and then as temporary defence coach throughout the Six Nations.

His appointment to Ireland’s summer tour coaching ticket led by interim boss Les Kiss and under the watchful eye of incoming head coach Schmidt put Foley in the shop window for full-time membership of the New Zealander’s new backroom staff and though the possibility of further secondments remains, Munster chief executive Garrett Fitzgerald said yesterday the province’s forwards coach was staying put for at least another 12 months.