Leinster swoop for Bleyendaal

Ex-Munster star to join coaching staff in another major coup for Cullen

Leinster have launched a second sensational southern hemisphere swoop in 24 hours by snapping up highly-rated former Munster out-half Tyler Bleyendaal as their new attack coach.

The current Hurricanes assistant, who was on the Tongan coaching ticket when they faced Ireland in the 2023 World Cup, replaces Andrew Goodman, who will succeed Mike Catt on Andy Farrell’s coaching team at the end of this season.

Bleyendaal (pictured) will link up with another former Munster coach in Jacques Nienaber at a province, who on Monday unveiled Jordie Barrett as a stunning marquee signing. This news came just several months after securing the services of former Munster lock RG Snyman.

The former Crusaders’ star was once touted as a potential Irish international, and was invited into the Irish camp before he became Irish-qualified by then coach Joe Schmidt ahead of the 2018 Six Nations.

However, that ambition was ultimately unsuccessful and his provincial stint was dogged by persistent injury trouble, beginning with a serious neck complain that initially delayed his arrival here from New Zealand.

He did enjoy a fine season in 2018/19, during which he captained the side, before succumbing to retirement in 2020, aged just 29.

Since then, he has directed an enigmatic Hurricanes’ attack dominated by All Black stars and since Jason Holland’s promotion to the international side, had assumed even more responsibility for coaching.

“With Andrew taking up a position with the Ireland coaching group, we’ve had an opportunity not only to look at our own coaching structures here at Leinster but also to talk to a number of other coaches,” said Leinster head coach Leo Cullen.

“Having gone through that process, we believe we are getting a really smart rugby mind in Tyler Bleyendaal.

“Tyler has been with the Hurricanes for the last few seasons and has been steadily growing as a coach – you can see that in the way they’re playing now, not just their results but specifically in terms of some of the stats around their attack.

“He’s someone who knows Ireland well and understands the rugby landscape here which is important, but ultimately, we are keen to learn from him.”