Mike Prendergast confirms ambition to become Munster head coach 

Prendergast had been placed at the top of potential successors but this was the first indication the 47-year-old was interested in taking the step up to head coach.

MOVIN' ON UP? Current Munster attack coach Mike Prendergast. Pic: Dan Sheridan/Inpho

Mike Prendergast has confirmed his ambition to become Munster head coach as the province continues its search to replace Graham Rowntree.

Attack coach Prendergast, a former Munster scrum-half, was speaking to media on Tuesday for the first time since Rowntree exited at the end of October. 

His name had been placed at the top of potential successors but this was the first indication the 47-year-old was interested in taking the step up to head coach.

The former Young Munster director of rugby spent nine years as an assistant coach in France with Grenoble, Oyonnax, Stade Francais and Racing 92 before incoming head coach Rowntree persuaded him to return to his home province in the summer of 2022.

Prendergast is credited with transforming Munster’s attack and helping them to the URC title in May 2023, the first season of Rowntree’s coaching ticket also featuring Denis Leamy and Andi Kyriacou.

Rowntree’s departure on October 29 was soon followed by Kyriacou’s while Leamy and Prendergast signed two-year extensions to their current deals which will keep them at Munster in their present roles until the summer of 2027 regardless of the identity of the new head coach.

Yet the attack coach wants that to be him, which he confirmed when asked if his hand was up for the job.

“It's something I would have envisaged in my career,” Prendergast said. “I suppose you start out, you're learning the ropes and the older I get, and the more environments and different head coaches that you work with, it's something that gets you thinking a small bit.

“And it did over the last couple of years but whatever decision is made, I've signed on for another two years. I love doing the attack and it's up to the club to make that decision and I'm sure they will.

“The club have been very forthright that they want to take their time in doing that and make sure it's the right decision, which we all completely respect. But if you're asking me, yep, my name is in the hat and I'm sure along with a lot of other coaches around the place."

Prendergast insisted it remained business as usual as Munster prepare for this Friday’s Champions Cup pool clash with Castres in France under interim head coach Ian Costello, the head of rugby operations. 

Former Hurricanes head coach and Northampton Saints director of rugby has joined on a temporary basis as a Performance Consultant while Alex Codling has been acting as forwards coach consultant on secondment from the Ireland Women’s team.

Earlier on Tuesday, Munster declared Ireland front-rowers Oli Jager and Dave Kilcoyne as ready for comebacks from their respective neck and ankle injuries. 

Tighthead prop Jager has been sidelined since early October while if loosehead Kilcoyne makes his return this weekend it will be his first game in almost 12 months, having initially injured his shoulder before a pre-season ankle injury prevented an earlier comeback.

Costello will name his team to face Castres on Thursday.