Munster players not distracted despite Randle appointment controversy, says McMillan

Tadhg Beirne and Head Coach Clayton McMillan. Pic: INPHO/Morgan Treacy

Clayton McMillan insisted Munster’s bid for a top-eight URC finish would not be derailed by the controversy engulfing the province’s decision to hire Roger Randle as its next attack coach.

The Chiefs assistant will replace the Bath-bound Mike Prendergast this summer on a two-year contract, subject to securing a work permit, but his appointment has met with discontent in some quarters of the Munster support, both inside and outside the organisation, following the re-airing of an historic rape allegation against the former New Zealand wing from 1997, for which the complaint was dropped.

Three independent members of Munster’s Professional Games Board, ex-players Billy Holland, Killian Keane and Mick O’Driscoll, have resigned their positions in the wake of Randle’s appointment. McMillan while acknowledged different opinions and delivered a strong defence of a man he called “an outstanding human” having worked with him during his four years in charge of the Chiefs between 2021-25. He also addressed the potential distraction this off-field issue, in addition to Munster Rugby seeking voluntary redundancies, was posing his squad’s efforts to secure a play-off berth and qualification for next season’s Champions Cup.

Munster stand seventh with four games to play and need to stay in the top eight to secure their objectives. As he named his team to face Benetton at Stadio Monigo on Saturday, McMillan said of the noise surrounding the province: “It would be nice if we didn't have it. But this stuff has come about through people loving the club and having strong opinions around its future direction. So I understand it.

“In terms of distraction, the players are under no illusion to the challenge and have been excellent at just focusing on what's directly in front of them. That's just been our training week and then obviously travel and the game.

“We have potentially more scope for us to connect around each other when we travel but (we are) purely performance focused.” 

Of Randle, McMillan added: “I fully respect that people will have an opinion, but it's not an opinion that is shared by me. I've known Roger for a long time. I think he's an outstanding human, well loved by family and people that have worked alongside him for a long period of time.”