Denis Leamy rules out Munster head coach role

Former Irish international Denis Leamy has confirmed he is not pursuing the Munster head coach role, opting instead to continue his tenure as defence coach until 2027.

Leamy, who has been with his native province for over two years, recently signed a contract extension, solidifying his commitment to the role.

Leamy expressed his contentment with his current position, emphasizing his passion for player development and defensive strategy.

“To be asked to coach Munster is an absolute honour, and to be asked to continue for another two years is really special,” said Leamy.

“The head coach isn’t for me right now. Maybe sometime in the distant future, but right now, I’m very happy to be in the assistant space.”

The departure of Graham Rowntree has left the head coach position vacant, with attack coach Mike Prendergast emerging as a favorite for the role.

Leamy, however, remains steadfast in his current responsibilities, focusing on preparing Munster for their upcoming United Rugby Championship (URC) clash with the Lions at Thomond Park.

“There’s an ongoing process as far as I know from the powers that be above us,” Leamy stated. “We trust the people at board level to deal with that. Our focus is on the Lions and the next couple of weeks in Europe.”

Leamy’s experience as a player, with 145 Munster appearances and 57 caps for Ireland, has been instrumental in shaping the team’s defensive strategies.

Munster have two wins from six matches in the United Rugby Championship table and are positioned 12th in the table.