New Munster CEO Avan Lee wants role for 'legend' Peter O'Mahony

Incoming interim Munster CEO Avan Lee has reached out to former star Peter O'Mahony, who has been critical of the province's operations.

Avan Lee during his time as Hurricanes CEO. Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images

Incoming interim CEO Avan Leetarget="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> is set to hit the ground running when he arrives at Munster Rugby later this month with the New Zealander having already reached out to former captain Peter O’Mahony to discuss his recent criticisms of the province.

Lee, 52, is set to replace outgoing chief executive Ian Flanagan, who last week announced his departure after seven years in post. The former Hurricanes CEO, who will have an initial 12-month contract with the IRFU, will take up his role on October 21, three days out from Munster’s URC derby against Leinster at Aviva Stadium.

He will arrive fully aware of the criticisms made most recently from Munster and Ireland legend O’Mahony, who last week called for change at the top of the club he played for between 2010 and his retirement in 2025.

That change, in advance of the Munster Rugby board taking delivery of an Independent Governance and Organisational Review, has been swift with Lee explaining his intent to sit down with the province’s critics about their concerns for the way the organisation has been run. The Kiwi also wants to find a way to bring O’Mahony back into the Munster Rugby fold.

“Yes, absolutely. I've already reached out,” Lee told reporters on an IRFU conference call on Wednesday. “I've connected with Peter O'Mahony and (Munster Rugby ambassador) Donncha O’Callaghan.

“I would have done so if Peter hadn't said the sort of comments he said in the last week. I think it's really important to connect with legends like him and understand what he thinks. I think having a connection with past players is actually critical. You're never going to please everybody all the time, but I think it's really important to have those kind of people inside the camp.

“I think Peter's obviously had a fantastic career. He's got a lot to offer. He loves Munster. I think he's a natural person for me to sit down and talk to and just, I guess, understand what it means for him to be part of Munster and what he wants Munster to look like.

“I think ultimately, is there some sort of a role for a guy like Peter? I think it would be a real shame if there wasn't in some capacity, that would be difficult to understand, if he wanted to.” 

Lee played club rugby with Clontarf during his 20s and returned to Dublin as a consultant to World Rugby for a second stint in Ireland before taking the helm of the Hurricanes Super Rugby franchise in Wellington. He led that organisation for a decade between 2015 and his decision to leave his post 10 months ago, citing his wish to allow fresh leadership to guide “the next phase of the Hurricanes’ journey”.

He is now set to join forces with fellow Kiwi and head coach Clayton McMillan to guide the Irish province through its current challenges and has ambitions to land the CEO role on a permanent basis.

"Yeah, definitely,” Lee said when asked about his interest in the post full-time.

"It's 12 months, is the interim, which is whatever you take from that. But 12 months is certainly, from my perspective, my attitude is that it's permanent. And, you know, once I do a good job, I'm sure that will happen. But I'm not coming over to look at a 12-month job. I feel like I'm leaving New Zealand for this opportunity."

Lee also explained his desire to return to Ireland in a working capacity.

“Given my background in Ireland, family, etc, I've always thought about heading back to that part of the world and working in rugby again.

“To be honest, it goes back probably five or six years with, with (the late former IRFU CEO) Philip Browne and then (current CEO) Kevin Potts, and just staying in touch.

"I finished with the Hurricanes at Christmas and then just let Kevin know that I was looking. I did some consultancy for World Rugby, a few other things.

"Then, obviously, recent times, there's been change. So, yeah, I've been in a lot of ways, ready to go. Very passionate about Ireland and Irish rugby.

"So, the right opportunity came up and we're just sort of making it happen as a family. And I'm getting over.”