Clayton McMillan had 'brief chat' with Munster interim CEO

Former Munster players Donncha O’Callaghan and Peter O’Mahony have also taken a phone call from Avan Lee

Munster head coach Clayton McMillan has met new interim CEO Avan Lee 'a couple of times before'. Pic: Ben McShane/Sportsfile

Clayton McMillan was firm in his intention to concentrate on the on-field stuff when Ian Flanagan stepped down as Munster CEO. He intends maintaining that course now that the chatter has moved on to the new incumbent.

Avan Lee was named last week as the man to fill the chief executive role for at least the next 12 months after the previous incumbent announced his intention to finish up. He has already spoken to club captain Tadhg Beirne and other players.

Lee has also been in touch with head coach Clayton McMillan but Munster are in the middle of a long block of games and they face into a Champions Cup opener against Racing 92 in Pairc Ui Chaoimh next weekend.

First things first, and all that.

“He reached out. He reached out on the phone and we had a brief chat, but, it was really just introductory,” said McMillan. “I've met him a couple of times before, don't know him intimately, and we just keep it pretty brief because he knows that we're focused on the game and we'll get all the pleasantries done when he eventually gets here.” 

Lee finished up with the Hurricanes last Christmas and has done some consultancy work for World Rugby, another previous employer since, but he has stated that he is “ready to go” in the new job and the need for a “non-financial audit”.

Former players Donncha O’Callaghan and Peter O’Mahony, as well as current general manager Ian Costello, are others who have taken a phone call from Lee as he starts a job that will be crucial in helping Munster on and off the park.