MELBOURNE
the travel, the fans’ support, it is an outstanding competition to be a part of. The Irish players are certainly in well-coached programmes and can achieve their dreams of playing for Ireland, which is really important, and they are well looked after.’
McGahan, who led Munster to Magners League titles in 2009 and 2011, keeps an eye on his old club’s fortunes when he can. ‘I download a few of their matches. I wouldn’t be watching them all the time but their results, FORMER Munster boss Tony McGahan has described Anthony Foley’s decision to recruit an all-Irish backroom staff as a development he will watch with interest in the coming seasons.
Foley’s elevation to head coach, succeeding Kiwi Rob Penney, provided the province with the chance to shop local and McGahan, who gave Foley (right) his start on the training ground with defence and forwards coaching duties during his tenure at the club, is delighted with the direction Munster have chosen to go.
‘I’m really excited about the coaching team he has got. He has got really good people who have Munster connections. That will connect well with the players and certainly the fans.
‘There are guys who are experts. Ian Costello has done a fabulous job with Munster through the under-20s, the academy, skills, kicking. Mick O’Driscoll, fantastic for the lineout. Jerry Flannery’s a really big I’d be following them every week and watching the highlights. You look back with a lot of fond memories on the rugby part, but more importantly you look back at the people – that’s probably the biggest thing.’
McGahan certainly doesn’t miss Ireland for the weather. ‘Since January I haven’t worn long pants once,’ he says, emphasising the very different circumstances in which he prepares his Rebels team in, but he has promised to retrace his steps some thinker of the game.
‘You have still got Niall O’Donovan there and then you complement that with someone like Brian Walsh, who has been at the forefront of AIL rugby for a long time. He will have a strong connection to a lot of those middle-age guys now making the breakthrough.’
Switching to rivals Leinster, McGahan added they have pulled off a real coup in landing Wallabies second row Kane Douglas from the Waratahs.
‘It’s big news here. There are not many big athletic locks around the world who can carry. He will really suit European rugby and will do a fantastic job over there.’ day in the future.
‘The three kids were born in Limerick and we’d a fantastic group of neighbours and friends outside of rugby as well as the rugby.
‘We had a wonderful time and are looking forward to having the opportunity of taking the kids back, showing them where they were born, where they lived, where they went to school. To be able to do that as a family, we’re really looking forward to when that time arrives.’