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Munster confirm shock exit of head coach Graham Rowntree
By Liam Heagney
Graham Rowntree has paid the ultimate price for Munster’s poor start to the new season, as the former England prop has parted ways with the Irish province following just two wins in their opening six United Rugby Championship games.
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Away defeats at Leinster, Stormers and Sharks in recent weeks left Munster in 12th place in the 16-team tournament and their administrators have acted on their return from South Africa by relieving Rowntree of his position ahead of next Saturday’s friendly fixture in Limerick versus an All Blacks XV.
A statement read: “Munster and the IRFU today [Tuesday] confirm the departure of Graham Rowntree as head coach by mutual agreement.
“After joining the club in 2019, Rowntree spent three years as forwards coach before being appointed head coach ahead of the 2022/23 season. In his first season as head coach, Rowntree led Munster to the URC title, the club’s first trophy in 12 years, before overseeing a top of the table finish in last season’s URC campaign.
“The change to the senior men’s coaching team is with immediate effect, with head of rugby operations Ian Costello taking over as interim head coach. The recruitment process for a permanent head coach will get underway immediately.”
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
Munster CEO Ian Flanagan said: “We would like to thank Graham for his passion and dedication to Munster over the past five years, and I would like to wish him and his family the very best for the future on behalf of Munster.
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“With the All Blacks XV coming to a sold-out Thomond Park this weekend and a number of big games on the horizon in December, our focus will be on continuing to support the coaches and the players for the season ahead.”
Rowntree added: “I have thoroughly enjoyed my time here in Munster working with a very talented group of players and coaches.
“I would like to thank the wider Munster family for all the support they have shown me in my time here but now is the right stage for my family and I to look forward to a new chapter.”
No fan of Munster or it’s fans, they are nasty and unpleasant. But GR has been very poorly treated, won the URC in his first year, topped the log with a close semi defeat in his second and they pump him out of the door because of a few poor results this season! Sad to see that well worn football cliche ‘mutual agreement’ now appearing in rugby press comms.
I wonder how much this was influenced by whingeing po’m’s issues with his game time…
Don't think he was pushed. May have lost changing room. But to have had that many players out would have hurt any coach. A loss to Munster.
HAve never experienced nasty people there. Very passionate yes
The pot calling the kettle black
Frees up Rowntree for the British Lions scrum coach job!
I am sorry for Graham Rowntree. He brought passion and skill to the job. The run of mass injuries that the Province sustained was quite unbelievable. They probably needed a win against Stormers to avoid this outcome if they got a shillacking by Sharks, which they did. I think some players can look at themselves for some of the performances (Zebre and Stormers).
Not 100% its the right call. They were decent against Ospreys and Leinster.
Without the injury disaster I reckon he is still there.
Classy of him to acknowledge and thank the wider Munster family. Decent man. Wish him and his family the best.
Well, that's a nice coaching gig up for grabs! I'll dust off my CV...
Outside chances?
- Macdonald?
- Felix Jones?
- Jacques Nienaber (lol - that would be wild!). Why not? He's coached there before and he would be head coach. His contract is probably watertight and he's not one to make such massive waves!
- Ronan O'Gara. Is he happy at La Rochelle?
- Johan Ackerman?
My money is on Ronan O'Gara. He's a Munster/Cork man. Top point scorer for Munster.
Ackerman to Cape Town, thank you.
O'Gara might believe he can go directly to a top International job. LaRoche are hot/cold at moment though so now might be a good time to switch.
That said he has a nice life on Ile de Re with kids and family well embedded in it....it would take something serious to up sticks until kids older.
Any possibility the remainder of Felix Jones’ England contract can be bought out?
I think he is only there until the end of the autumn series anyway so no need to be bought out.
However, if he thinks the English set-up is unstable, what would he make of Munsters? How many coaches have they gone through in last ten/ fifteen years?
There's not enough money in Irish Rugby I reckon, theyre already scouring for a loosehead medical joker for munster. It'll be Mike Prendergast as the budget option and why not more jobs for the boys, thats what has seemingly gotten them into their current mess.
Agreed. Do you think he's ready for a head coach gig?