
Rugby
Share
Published 14:04 19 Dec 2023 GMT
Johnny Sexton pictured during the 2023 Rugby World Cup. (Photo by Christian Liewig - Corbis/Getty Images)[/caption]
"There’s a lot of rugby intellect in there and you’d like to access it or use it in some way if you had the ability to do it. But he’s got to decide what floats his boat over the next period of time. "If he ever decides he wants to come back into coaching, the Irish system would be mad to say no to him."Nucifora says negotiations on a future assistant coach are confidential but he is confident the union will be in a position to announce the incumbent 'in a few weeks'. On House of Rugby, former Ireland star Lindsay Peat gave her take on Sexton possibly starting a coaching journey at Test level.
"Johnny Sexton, I have no doubted about his coaching potential but do you want to start from the top, or get in with Leinster maybe? Get into your coaching groove there and really dip your toe there, but I can't speak for him... Continuity and bringing in someone who has been an underage coach, with these senior players now, does appeal to me."Other names in the mix are Jared Payne (former Ireland back, now coaching at Scarlets) and current Ireland U20s coach Richie Murphy. Noel McNamara, who preceded him in that U20s role, went abroad, to Sharks and now Bordeaux Begles, to expand his coaching brief. McNamara is highly thought of by many within Irish rugby circles and that Bordeaux attack has looked pretty impressive in this season's Champions Cup, slicing up Connacht and Bristol in successive games. Then we have Munster backs coach Mike Prendergast. "He would have to be considered," said Peat, "but I feel he is not finished with his time at Munster. His journey has only just started, with that coaching set-up, and there's great days to come there. When he's ready, he's definitely a name to go into the hat." Add Felix Jones' name to that list and there are six decent candidates, aside from whatever feelers or conversations Andy Farrell and the IRFU are having themselves. We should know more before the 2024 Six Nations, with any prospective attack coach maybe even dropping in on a few sessions during the championship.
Prendergast admits huge disappointment at Munster situation
Not ideal. It’s worrying times for Munster rugby at the moment, with problems on and off the field. After being knocked out of both the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup, controversy then surrounded the appointment of Roger Randle for next season, due to historic rape accusations. The New Zealander is coming in to replace senior […]
Rugby
12h
Kerry legend slams players for reaction to Michael Murphy punch
Not under his watch! Although the dust has pretty much settled after the Michael Murphy incident during Donegal’s NFL Division 1 final win over Kerry last month, one Kingdom legend is still not pleased with what went on. Most of the criticism was levelled at Murphy for his clear-as-day punch on Dylan Casey, as well […]
Rugby
14h
Rugby
The SportsJOE Friday Pub Quiz: Week 134
Rugby