NewsJohn Kirwan, the recently removed Italian coach, and Lynn Howells, the former coach at the now defunct Celtic Warriors, are believed to be among the many candidates to have declared an interest in the newly-advertised position of head coach at Leinster. Both are also believed to have held preliminary talks with the Leinster chief executive Mick Dawson during the week.

Sources close to Kirwan suggest the legendary former All Black winger is also in line for the impending vacancy at Bath as the season-end coaching merry-go-round gathers momentum, but that he has a preference for Leinster.

Despite being contracted until the 2007 World Cup, Kirwan was released by the Italian federation after a disappointing and pointless campaign and he has been swiftly replaced by Pierre Berbizier. Howells, too, has been coaching in Italy, with Leonessa.

However, Leinster's soundings are very much at a preliminary stage, according to Dawson, who declines to discuss individual applications.