Declan Kidney bullish on future with London Irish

Declan Kidney could not suppress a laugh at the final question as he was unveiled as London Irish’s new technical director, a few hours after Nick Kennedy’s shock resignation as the Exiles’ director of rugby.

Could he ever see himself back at Munster one day? “Ha ha — I’m just delighted to be back in the game. It’s like a fresh start and I’m really looking forward to this challenge.”

The 58-year-old Cork man has certainly got a big task on his hands at London Irish, who look doomed to relegation as they sit 12 points adrift at the bottom of England’s Premiership, with just five games to go. Even the club’s most optimistic supporters realise they are unlikely to survive, and defeat to Gloucester this weekend will send them a step closer to returning to the Championship, from whence they were promoted last summer.