Kidney joins Leinster for 'family reasons'

Declan Kidney has cited family reasons for his decision to quit Gwent Dragons in order to take a job with Leinster.

Kidney has signed a three-year contract to become Leinster’s director of rugby less than a month after agreeing to coach the Gwent Dragons.

“I have been extremely happy in my association with Gwent Dragons and would like to state that my decision is based solely on family reasons,” said Kidney.

“I would like to thank the Dragons’ management for facilitating my move back to Ireland.”

Leinster axed Gary Ella on Monday as punishment for their failure to reach the knockout stages of the Heineken Cup, while their form in the Celtic League was equally disappointing.

Ella, an Australian, has been replaced by Kidney who was handed the Rodney Parade coaching reins on May 6 after Mike Ruddock had accepted the Wales job.

Kidney had been assistant to Ireland coach Eddie O’Sullivan for the past two seasons but resigned after being offered a different role by the Irish Rugby Football Union.

Searching for employment elsewhere, the Dragons handed him the coaching position he craved - but the prospect of a return to Ireland has proved too strong to resist.

Kidney will begin work at Leinster on August 1 and the province’s rugby chief executive Michael Dawson said: “I’m delighted to confirm that Declan has agreed to join Leinster.

“Declan is an outstanding coach with huge experience of the domestic, club and the international game.

“Having secured the services of all our international players for the coming season, and with the number of quality young players coming through the system, I believe that Declan’s expertise will help Leinster move forward.”