McNaughton named as Ireland team manager

Eoin

Link is here.

The IRFU announced today that former Ireland international Paul McNaughton has been named as the new team manager for Ireland.

McNaughton is the first appointment to the Ireland management team following the confirmation of Declan Kidney as coach.

McNaughton will also hold the position of manager up to and including the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand. He will officially take up his position in tandem with Declan Kidney following the Heineken Cup Final on May 24 and will not be involved in the preparation of the Ireland team for the forthcoming game against the Barbarians and the summer tour.

Commenting on his appointment, Paul McNaughton said: "I am looking forward to working with Declan and the rest of the players over the coming months and beyond. I can echo his sentiments by saying that there is no greater honour than working with your own national team and while certainly there are challenges ahead for all of us, there is also a certain amount of anticipation about the possibilities that exist for Irish Rugby and this squad."

"Declan's focus will remain totally on the Munster team for the next number of weeks and following this we will be setting about putting in place the structures around the team ahead of the Autumn internationals, which gives us a certain amount of latitude to do that."

IRFU Chief Executive Philip Browne said: "Paul brings a wealth of international experience to the management of the team and has a reputation that is held in the highest regard throughout the rugby and business communities."

Was this the role that we thought Mick Galwey was getting?

dc69

eoin_s wrote: »

Link is here.



Was this the role that we thought Mick Galwey was getting?

yes but mick galway was never getting any role tbh.

Tim Robbins

eoin_s wrote: »

Link is here.



Was this the role that we thought Mick Galwey was getting?

Be interesting to know how much or how little say Kidney had in that.
I don't think there's any point in having anyone there that hasn't been approved by Kidney.

Eoin

Wasn't part of the delay around Kidney's signing because of the back-room team? I wonder how much compromise was done by both sides if so.

tHE vAGGABOND

He worked with Kidney at Leinster - so they know each other well..

phog

Sop to the Leinster folk I'm afraid, Kidney didn't want him but settled for him just to sign the contract.

Zzippy

phog wrote: »

Sop to the Leinster folk I'm afraid, Kidney didn't want him but settled for him just to sign the contract.

Here we go, Munster-Leinster conspiracy theories again.
From what I hear, Kidney is very good friends with McNaughton and holds him in high regard, plus this was flagged for the last couple of weeks. I'd rather have him there with his experience than Galwey, who needs to cut his teeth a bit more as a coach before he could be considered for a big job

toomevara

phog wrote: »

Sop to the Leinster folk I'm afraid, Kidney didn't want him but settled for him just to sign the contract.

Oh lord! please no, I'm off to the netball forum if all this machiavellian Munster/Leinster feckballery starts doing the rounds again...

tHE vAGGABOND

Indeed, Gallamh can get the managers job with with one of the provinces - get learn the ropes...

guapos

I dont see why mcNaughton couldnt have gone on the tour as manager. I think the summer tour would have been a good chance for him to get usedto the role and the players. Also bradley could have looked after barbarian match with kidney taking over for summer, seems we are missing out on a great chance for kidney to put his own style on the team

thehighground

guapos wrote: »

I dont see why mcNaughton couldnt have gone on the tour as manager. I think the summer tour would have been a good chance for him to get usedto the role and the players. Also bradley could have looked after barbarian match with kidney taking over for summer, seems we are missing out on a great chance for kidney to put his own style on the team

I think a lot of this is to do with giving Michael Bradley a chance to prove himself up to the Munster job.

I'd also think that there is probably a lot of stuff that both Kidney & McNaughton have to do in their existing provinces before they move on. I'd say Kidney would be involved in recruiting his own and Jim William's replacements in Munster as well as recruiting playing staff. Not so bad for Leinster maybe, as Cheika is still around. Then, all the backroom staff for Ireland have to be recruited. Wouldn't really have time to get all that done to head off downunder.

cgarvey

phog wrote: »

Sop to the Leinster folk I'm afraid, Kidney didn't want him but settled for him just to sign the contract.

Let me guess: you have a friend who is "high up" in Leinster and is always "spot on"?

I too would have liked to see McN on the summer tour, but I can see the "clean slate" argument as well.