'I've never met David': Irish boss Kidney's startling IRFU claim
You’d imagine that the desire by the IRFU to develop a wider tranche of potential Ireland players would surely have them in contact with London Irish, the English Premiership club, in these recent financially straitened times. However, Irish boss Declan Kidney, the 2009 Grand Slam-winning coach, has revealed to RugbyPass that he has never ever had a single conversation with IRFU high-performance boss David Nucifora.
This absent rapport between the organisation running rugby in Ireland and a club in England with an Irish ethos goes way back to the start of the professional era and it was something touched on by Willie Anderson in his recently published autobiography.
Anderson had taken over at Irish in the mid-1990s from Clive Woodward, who at the time had been at loggerheads over how the IRFU felt entitled to have Ireland players contracted to the English club still be allowed to play for the Irish provinces in European competition.
It drove a wedge between relations across the Irish sea and judging by the current lack of communication, that relationship hasn’t been repaired. “No, no, I have never actually met David,” admitted Kidney, when asked by RugbyPass had he ever been in contact since his arrival at London Irish with those pulling the strings at the IRFU.
The Australia Nucifora has been running the show in Dublin since April 2014, while Kidney took over the reins at London Irish in March 2018, but there has never been a conversation to tease out whether the former multi trophy-winning Ireland and Munster boss would willingly accommodate players at the Exiles at the request of the IRFU. Instead, Kidney only snaps up the odd player from Ireland when he knows they are surplus to requirement.
"As a technical rugby coach, he was clueless"
– Ex-Ireland skipper Willie Anderson has written an excellent autobiography which includes a vivid account of his short-lived stint working as an assistant to Clive Woodward at London Irish
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) September 2, 2021
For instance, legendary back-rower Sean O’Brien was only signed by London Irish after the IRFU decided to no longer centrally contract him prior to the 2019 World Cup while Hugh O’Sullivan, who made a Premiership debut off the bench last Saturday at Worcester, arrived in England via an unfulfilled stint at Leinster. Kidney, though, would be interested in bringing in more players across from Ireland if the IRFU were ever interested in sounding him out. “Should any player be looking for a different experience or should there be a clutter of Irish players in a position where they don’t have (enough) game time and they [the IRFU] would like top rugby for them, we would certainly be only too happy to help out.
“In terms of the relationship, we don’t want to be getting in the way of anything the IRFU are doing but we would certainly be more than happy to help out in any way possible. So like if the IRFU had seven or eight players in one position that they all felt were of international ability and weren’t getting enough time and they want to send one or two our way, we would certainly take a look at that in comparison to the lads we have because we have good players in all positions as well too.
“We are an English team, we’re sponsored by Irish money and we have that combination going. I wouldn’t want to get into the political side of it. We would be more than happy to do it [help out] but we would certainly not be in the heads of players or anybody else to do bartering one way or the other. We would be delighted for lads to come over to us, but they need to add value to our team as well.
“Things have changed a lot in the 23 years and they will continue to do so. Funnily enough, Willie didn’t send me a complimentary copy (of his book), but anyway… Would we be happy to help (the IRFU)? Absolutely. But if I saw a headline tomorrow about ‘fifth province’ and or any of this nonsense, I just wouldn’t stand for it. We are an English side, we provide players to the English squad and we’re delighted with the fact that some of our younger players got picked for the English squad in the summer – and that is what we want to do.
“London Irish have a long reputation of producing players that have gone on to play for England but they have gone to other clubs. What we are trying to do is to get those players to stay with us. If Anthony Watson, Joe Cokanasiga or Jonathan Joseph had stayed with us that would have helped our roster, and what we want to do is create an atmosphere.
“We brought in some senior players to give advice to the likes of Ollie Hassell-Collins, Ben Loader, Tom Parton, Ben Donnell, all these guys coming through. If some Irish lads want to join us with that as well then too, there is nobody happier than myself or Les (Kiss, assistant coach) to help them out in doing that. But we are certainly not going to get in the way of anything the IRFU are doing.”
That said, it has been a frustrating time for O’Brien, the two-tour British and Irish Lions pick, at London Irish since the curtain fell on his 66-cap Ireland career and he opted to head to the Premiership. He has only made 14 appearances across two years and was a late cry-off from the bench for last weekend’s match at Sixways.
However, despite O’Brien’s limited on-field contribution, Kidney was fulsome in his praise for the role played by the 34-year-old away from the pitch at the club. “This weekend is another weekend so let’s see what happens there (with regards to playing). Sean’s influence off the pitch, the things you don’t see, he takes away the academy fellas, he does their diet with them.
“There are loads of stories I could tell about Sean but he will probably write even more in his second autobiography, I suppose. But yes, he has been a real positive influence around the club and has helped to set standards for players as well. You have Ben Donnell and other players of that ilk that are coming through and they will all have some information from Sean.
“It’s not all about what Sean would say to them but it’s also about how they conduct themselves and how they work through their own rehabilitation if they are injured or how they keep themselves fit or how they carry themselves in their diet, and you can have a bit of fun then too. Those are all the different sides of it.”
"If we had Anthony Watson, Joe Cokanasiga, Johny Williams and Jonathan Joseph, if they were all here we would have a nice conundrum for selection"
– Declan Kidney knows Irish have a reputation as a feeding ground for its Premiership rivals#LIRvEXE
https://t.co/7058VnQWLk— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) May 18, 2021
Comments on RugbyPass
Jordie is looking at 16 games maximum if Leinster reach both the URC and champions cup finals. Thats not guaranteed. Some of those home URC fixtures will be cakewalks as well for Leinster and there is not much doing during the 6 nations in Feb and March so he can probably get a decent rest then. He will have to really put in it for maybe 7 or 8 games max. It should be a good move for both.
13 Go to commentsThe game was a quarter final, not a semi final. Barrett will be here for 6 months, he is no one's replacement at 13. That mantle will most likely ultimately go to Jamie Osborne, though Garry Ringrose has at least 4 more years in him. The long term problem position (in the next 3 years) for Leinster is tighthead prop, though there are a couple of prospects at schools level.
21 Go to commentsSo much for all that hype surrounding the ‘revival’ of Aussie rugby. The Blues were without the likes of regular starters Perofeta, Sullivan, Christie etc… This was a capitulation of the highest order by Australia’s finest. Joe Schmidt definitely has his work cut out for him.
2 Go to commentsYes they can ignore Sotutu. Like Akira Ioane plays OK at Super level but gets lost in tests. Too many chances too many failures.
2 Go to commentsA wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
13 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
13 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
5 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
25 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
5 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
10 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
38 Go to comments