Leinster coach Declan Kidney will stand down with immediate effect following his appointment as head coach to Munster. The Leinster backroom team of Paul McNaughton (team manager) and coaches Gerry Murphy, Bobby Byrne and Roly Meates will assume control of all coaching affairs until the team's involvement in the Celtic League and Celtic Cup has finished.
Kidney will succeed Alan Gaffney as Munster's director of coaching on a three-year contract. Gaffney, who returns to Australia at the end of the season as assistant coach to the Wallabies, will remain in control of the Munster squad until their involvement in the Celtic Cup competition also ends.
It is believed that it was Leinster who forced the issue with Kidney once the news had leaked last Sunday that he had applied for the coaching job with Munster. Kidney was not fired but a decision, in consultation with him, was taken for what Leinster executives believed was in the best interests of the team.
Leinster have a minimum of two matches remaining and a maximum of four, depending on how the team performs in the Celtic Cup.
Kidney was not available for comment yesterday with news of his departure from Dublin contained in a terse press release.
"Though disappointed to see Declan leave, I understand his reasons and I would like to take this opportunity to wish him well in the future," said Leinster chief executive Mick Dawson.
"Leinster would like to acknowledge the success of a campaign which has seen the side secure a home Heineken Cup quarter-final and a third place position in the Celtic League. Declan will stand down with immediate effect."
So ends the first messy chapter, Leinster quietly fuming, Munster welcoming Kidney like the long-lost son.
"Firstly I would like to thank all those who expressed an interest in the position," said Munster chief executive Garrett Fitzgerald on Kidney's appointment. "It is obviously a very important role and I am delighted that Declan has opted to accept it. In my opinion, he is an outstanding coach, whose record at the highest European level speaks for itself.
"Despite the fact that his family are based in Cork and that he has been away from them for long periods over the past three years, I know it can't have been an easy decision for him to decide to change roles within the IRFU. However, we found ourselves in a similar position to Leinster three years ago when we lost him to the national squad so his return is a welcome development."
Squad captain Anthony Foley was equally enthusiastic. "I am looking forward to Declan's return, looking forward to working with him again," said the Irish number eight.
"He is a top-flight coach who I have the height of respect for. All the valuable experience he has gained over the past three years should benefit us."
Elsewhere Ulster have signed four new players, all of them part of this season's Ireland under-21 squad. John Andress (tighthead prop, Belfast Harlequins) Lewis Stevenson (secondrow, Belfast Harlequins) Oisín Hennessey (backrow, Dungannon), and Stephen Ferris (number eight, Dungannon) have committed themselves to Ulster, while Ryan Caldwell and Declan Fitzpatrick have also re-signed one-year contracts with the province.
Munster, who play bottom-placed Borders on Sunday, have made five changes to the team which started in last week's Heineken European Cup match in San Sebastian. Paul Devlin starts at outside centre with Jason Holland, who came on in the second half against Biarritz, starting at outhalf beside Frank Murphy, with regular scrumhalf Peter Stringer reverting to the bench.
Jerry Flannery starts at hooker with Frankie Sheahan also on the bench, while Stephen Keogh is given a chance at blindside flanker.
As runners-up to Ospreys, Munster have already qualified for a home draw in the Celtic Cup, which involves the top eight teams in the league, the top four guaranteed a home quarter-final. They will face the seventh-placed side in the league, which at this stage could very easily be either Connacht or Ulster.
Meanwhile, France flanker Serge Betsen has decided to stay with Biarritz despite the interest of Leicester. The 31-year-old, who has 48 caps, has signed a three-year contract.
MUNSTER (v Borders): S Payne; J Kelly, P Devlin, R Henderson, A Horgan; J Holland, F Murphy; M Horan, J Flannery, J Hayes, D O'Callaghan, P O'Connell, S Keogh, D Wallace, A Foley. Replacements: E McGovern, F Sheahan, T Hogan, J Williams, P Stringer, C Doyle, M Mullins.
