Paul O'Connell will not be taking over from Johann van Graan as Munster head coach after ruling himself out of the running for the role.
The former Munster, Ireland and British and Irish Lions captain said he feels he’s not experienced enough for a job of that size. His former Munster team mate Ronan O’Gara has already said he will not be looking to replace the outgoing van Graan at the end of the season.
“Well, look, I won’t be doing it,” O’Connell told The 2 Johnnies podcast. “I wouldn’t be qualified to do it. I was saying the other day, it’s like a guy if you were good at pulling pints being asked to run the bar! They’re two different things. I don’t know who will end up doing it.”
The Limerick native has impressed in his first year as Ireland forwards coach and is focused on preparations for the 2023 Rugby World Cup. As for the Munster job as a long term possibility, he said:
“I don’t know. Munster is a very special thing to me. I’d have to feel very right and very qualified to go and do it.
“I just have the most amazing memories with Munster and I’d hate to ever hurt them by getting involved and not doing a good job of it.”
