Munster name Roger Randle as new attack coach on two-year deal

Randle will take over from Mike Prendergast who is joining Bath at the end of the season

OLD FRIENDS: Roger Randle previously worked with Munster head coach Clayton McMillan at Super Rugby side the Chiefs. Pic: Anthony Au-Yeung/Getty Images

Munster have appointed Clayton McMillan’s former Chiefs assistant Roger Randle as their new attack coach on a two-year deal starting next season.

The province confirmed the appointment on Wednesday, ending their search to replace senior coach Mike Prendergast, who has opted to join English PREM champions Bath for 2026-27.

Randle, 51, will join Munster next summer, subject to obtaining a valid work permit, at the completion of the Chiefs’ Super Rugby season. That will bring to an end an eight-season stint on the coaching staff of the Hamilton franchise he represented as a wing. 

Randle made two non-Test All Blacks appearances, against Ireland A and Scotland A, on New Zealand’s end of season tour to the Northern Hemisphere in 2001. He also played for the Wellington-based Hurricanes, Bourgoin in the Top14 and for Italian clubs L’Aquila and Rugby Parma.

The new attack coach served on McMillan’s staff during the Munster boss’s four seasons at the Chiefs between 2021 and 2025, but has also worked with Waikato in New Zealand’s NPC competition, the Māori All Blacks, NZ Barbarians and the Japan Sevens in an 18-year coaching career.

Munster on Wednesday said Randle will work directly with Skills and Assistant Attack Coach Mossy Lawler but has not been given Prendergast’s current responsibilities as a senior coach.

McMillan had signalled Randle’s interest in joining Munster a fortnight ago when he revealed his former assistant’s agent had made contact surrounding the vacancy for next season, amid a flurry of interest in the role.

“Yeah, there's been people back in New Zealand that I would have worked with before,” the Munster head coach had said.

“There's people that I would have had a good relationship with through Super Rugby that are in Australia that have put their names forward. There's Kiwis that are coaching in the Premiership that no longer have jobs.

“There's an abundance of coaches out there but as I said, for me, it's around do they have the skill set to come here and help us be better but also have they got the personality to work alongside Mossy.” 

An ability to work alongside Lawler was essential, McMillan explained.

“I have a huge amount of respect for Mossy Lawler. I think he's a very intelligent coach with a big future ahead of him. So any decisions we make in the attack space, it's really important for me that he's an important consideration in and around that.

“But we do see it as a two-person job and so we're actively in the market. We've had, a lot of interest, throughout the whole world, as you can appreciate and we'll bring the right person in.” 

Now he has got what he feels is the right person in, McMillan said: “I’m very pleased that Roger will be joining Munster Rugby this summer.

“I have worked with Roger for many years, and he has always demonstrated an incredible work ethic and ingenuity when it comes to the attack aspect of the game.

“We are thrilled to have him come on board and believe he will complement the already excellent work that Mossy Lawler is doing on a day-to-day basis.” 

Randle said: “I am incredibly excited to be joining a prestigious club like Munster who have such a rich history and incredible supporters.

“I’m really looking forward to reuniting with Clayton but my focus for now is on the Chiefs and having a successful end to the season.” 

The Chiefs currently lie second in the Super Rugby Pacific table with six wins from their opening eight matches, three points behind the Hurricanes, whom they face in this weekend’s Round Nine of the competition. 

Randle’s attack has delivered 43 tries and 287 points so far in 2026, trailing only the Hurricanes in both categories, albeit at an average of 5.375 tries per game and Munster general manager Ian Costello said: “We have recruited an attack coach with considerable experience, not just at Super Rugby level but on the international stage as well.

“We’re excited to see the impact he will have on the team working alongside Mossy and I’m looking forward to welcoming Roger to the province when he arrives in Ireland this summer.”