Leinster are on the lookout for a new coach to take on the role following Leo Cullen’s decision to step away at the end of next season after 12 years in charge. It will be an interesting appointment given the length of time that Leo Cullen has been at the helm of the Leinster ship.
A number of names have been instantly linked with the job, names like Ronan O Gara, Scott Robertson, Jono Gibbes who is the Chiefs coach in New Zealand at the moment and was Leinster forwards coach under Joe Schmidt. The timing of the announcement gives Leinster and the IRFU time to look at their potential targets and sound some of them out.
Already the notion of Ronan O Gara as Leinster head coach has been dismissed by a number of people owing to his time as a Munster player and the rivalry that was there in his time.
Personally while it wouldn’t go down well with the Munster support, the Leinster job is much sought after and will give their chosen candidate the chance to work with a well drilled squad that has won multiple League titles and while they haven’t won the big prize in Europe since 2018, they have made multiple final appearances and will be back competing next season.
Ronan O Gara might not be the choice of several people for various reasons but his coaching CV is what you need to look at and forget his allegiances from his playing days. He cut his coaching teeth in France and New Zealand and has achieved much success with Racing 92, Crusaders and more recently with La Rochelle.
He has yet to speak about any possible move and is keeping his powder dry which is great to see in the modern world of instant news and quotes etc… Of course his head coach in New Zealand was Scott Robertson who he worked alongside and after he left his position as New Zealand coach and was replaced by Dave Rennie for an 18 month period until the end of the 2027 Rugby World Cup which is in Australia.
Scott Robertson’s coaching stock has risen and fallen after his spell in charge of New Zealand but his time in club rugby brought success to Crusaders. He also coached the New Zealand under 20 side for a spell.
Whoever Leinster look to bring in, they will inherit a good strong squad with a sprinkling of young talent that will be itching to impress next season looking ahead to the arrival of a new coach in the summer of 2027.
It will be interesting to see what way Leinster go as they look to appoint a new coach. They will have several interested parties in the position but will take their time and have the whole of next season to bring some one on board !!!
Leo Cullen has achieved plenty while in charge of Leinster and will hope he can end his time with two more trophies in the cabinet by the end of next season…..