Exclusive: Munster Rugby chief apologises over failed Roger Randle coaching appointment

Munster Rugby says it aims to rebuild trust after criticism surrounding its handling of a senior coaching recruitment process

Munster Rugby chief Ian Flanagan. Picture: ©INPHO/Ryan Byrne

Munster Rugby chief executive Ian Flanagan has apologised to supporters for mistakes made during the province’s attempt to appoint Roger Randle as an assistant coach.

Speaking publicly for the first time since the controversy emerged, Mr Flanagan told the Irish Examiner that he took full responsibility for the failed process that led Munster Rugby to commission an Independent Governance and Organisational Review.

Reports linking Mr Randle to the vacant attack coach role were followed by the circulation on social media of South African newspaper reports from 1997 referencing rape allegations against the former Super Rugby player.

Mr Randle has consistently protested his innocence against the claims, which did not result in a prosecution.

The appointment process led to the resignation of three independent members of Munster’s Professional Games Committee — former players Billy Holland, Killian Keane and Mick O'Driscoll.

Volunteer members of the organisation’s informal Commercial Advisory Group also stepped down.

In a wide-ranging interview, Mr Flanagan said his priority was now to repair reputational damage and rebuild trust among supporters and stakeholders.

‘We want to learn from this’

“I understand that. I accept it. I acknowledge it,” Flanagan said. “And I wouldn't necessarily say it's just supporters. We have a lot of stakeholders and I know there's disappointment out there from a lot of people.

“I know there is upset out there from a lot of people and this is a significant motivation for commissioning the independent review that we want to assure people.

“Firstly, I want to apologise to those people for how it did unfold and hold our hands up and say, we want to learn from this. 

"We do want to re-establish trust… and we want to reassure everyone that we are going to learn from this and we are going to strengthen our processes and our governance so that it doesn't happen again.”

• The full interview will be available for Irish Examiner subscribers and in print on Saturday morning.