Van Graan 'very disappointed and sad' at departures of Flannery and Jones

“There is massive opportunity in this disappointment and hopefully we can see the bright side of it.”

Johann van Graan has spoken of his sadness at the departures of assistant coaches Jerry Flannery and Felix Jones but insisted Munster did everything in their power to stop the former players from leaving the province.

Forwards coach Flannery and backline and attack coach Jones will exit Munster at the end of the season having turned down contract extensions to stay on van Graan’s coaching ticket, leaving the head coach to scramble for replacements as he continues his search for a senior coach to take his backroom staff numbers up to five.