THE APPOINTMENT of Simon Mannix as Munster backs coach on a two-year contract strengthens the influence of New Zealanders in shaping the rugby future of Ireland’s provinces. The 40-year-old, who won a single cap for the All Blacks, against France in 1994, will take up the position with Munster at the end of next month, subject to obtaining a work permit.
He joins fellow Kiwi Rob Penney, the province’s recently-appointed head coach in succession to Tony McGahan and former Ireland and Munster number eight Anthony Foley (forwards coach) as the mainstays of a new backroom team.
A former Hurricanes outhalf – he played for Manawatu against Ireland in 1992 – his career took him to England, where he lined out with Sale Sharks and Gloucester before taking up a coaching role with Racing Metro-92, a position he held for four seasons until last December, when he was let go.
He was popular with many of the players and the decision to replace him with Argentine Gonzalo Quesada wasn’t universally accepted and is believed to have led to friction with director of rugby and head coach Pierre Berbizier.
The latter said at the time of Mannix’s dismissal: “It is an evolution, just like in any operation. There have been developments at the administrative level, at the structural level with the training centre and the stadium that is being built and also in terms of the human make-up of the coaching staff. You (the press) talk about this (Mannix’s sacking) because it is the most visible part of the iceberg. That is part and parcel of the evolutionary process, I will not say naturally, but which happens. We are taking a different route, with a new vision, and a different personality.”
He is a brother of Tim Mannix, who played hooker and tighthead prop at Old Belvedere. Simon was selected for an All Black tour to France (1990) in his first year out of school. He played four matches and another four on the 1991 tour of Argentina as an understudy to Grant Fox. He was left out of the All Blacks 1991 World Cup squad and also in 1992 and 1993, before being recalled to play his only Test in 1994, against the French.
He also played for the New Zealand XV in 1991 and the New Zealand Development XV in 1992-1993. While at Wellington (1990-1996) he played 83 matches and scored 648 points.
New Zealand now provides Irish rugby with the head coaches at Heineken Cup champions Leinster (Joe Schmidt), Ulster in the newly-appointed Mark Anscombe, who succeeded Brian McLaughlin, and Penney, while also contributing Jono Gibbes (Leinster forwards coach), Greg Feek (Leinster and Ireland scrum coach) and now Mannix. Connacht’s Eric Elwood is the only Irish-born provincial head coach.
Munster chief executive Garrett Fitzgerald said: “We’re delighted Simon has agreed terms and believe his playing experience in two hemispheres plus his coaching experience at the top level in France will complement the recent appointment of Rob Penney and existing position of Anthony Foley.”
