Clear favourite emerges for Munster job amid Graham Rowntree exit

Mike Prendergast has emerged as the preferred choice to become the next head coach of the troubled Irish province Munster, who parted company with Graham Rowntree earlier this week. Rowntree left Munster after leading them to a fourth defeat in the opening six games of the United Rugby Championship season against the Sharks in Durban on Saturday.

On his return, the former England and British and Irish Lions prop was met by IRFU performance director David Humphreys and relieved of his duties as the search for a replacement gets underway.

The IRFU aren’t expected to look far for his replacement with Limerick-born Prendergast, the 47-year-old who became attack coach on a three-year contract when Rowntree became head coach in 2022, set to be offered the job.

England coach Steve Borthwick on the importance of winning close matches

Steve Borthwick on what he learned from the narrow defeats to New Zealand in the summer.

England coach Steve Borthwick on the importance of winning close matches

Steve Borthwick on what he learned from the narrow defeats to New Zealand in the summer.

During his playing days, scrum-half Prendergast had two spells at Munster between 2001 and 2006 and then 2008 and 2009 before starting his coaching career in France with Grenoble, Oyonnax, Stade Francais and Racing 92.

Almost as soon as Rowntree began clearing his desk, the Irish rumour mill began working overtime with Ronan O’Gara one of the first names linked and dismissed almost in the same breath.

United Rugby Championship

P

W

L

D

PF

PA

PD

BP T

BP-7

BP

Total

1

Leinster

6

6

0

0

29

2

Glasgow

6

4

2

0

23

3

Bulls

5

4

1

0

19

4

Lions

5

4

1

0

18

5

Connacht

6

3

3

0

18

6

Scarlets

6

3

2

1

16

7

Ulster

6

3

3

0

16

8

Cardiff Rugby

6

3

3

0

16

9

Sharks

5

3

2

0

15

10

Edinburgh

6

2

4

0

13

11

Benetton

6

2

3

1

13

12

Munster

6

2

4

0

12

13

Stormers

5

2

3

0

10

14

Ospreys

6

2

4

0

10

15

Dragons RFC

6

1

5

0

7

16

Zebre

6

1

5

0

7

The Munster legend is under contract to the Top 14 giants La Rochelle until 2027. He has already expressed an interest in coaching Ireland with Andy Farrell’s deal running out at the same time, or even France.

Felix Jones was also linked to Munster, but the RFU are determined to make him see out the whole of his 12-month notice period after he tried to quit Steve Borthwick’s coaching set-up following the summer tour of Japan and New Zealand.

The only scenario in which Jones, a long-term target for Leinster, will be allowed to take up another job before August is if the Lions come calling, leaving him free to then look for another job after returning from Australia.

Munster’s head of rugby operations, Ian Costello, has been appointed interim head coach and a lack of cash means that, in our understanding, the job is Prendergast’s if he wants it.