Former B&I Lion completes Munster's coaching ticket
NEWS: Munster have completed their coaching roster for next season.
The Irish giants confirmed that the appointment of Jared Payne as assistant coach on a two-year deal.
They also reveald that Mossy Lawler has signed an extension to his contract that will keep him at Munster until 2028 as assistant coach.
Munster’s attack and backline coaching responsibilities will be shared by Payne and Lawler.
The new appointment completes the Munster coaching team for next season following last week’s announcement of Jimmy Duffy as forwards coach.
The 40-year-old, who toured the country of his birth, New Zealand, with the British & Irish Lions in 2017, brought his career to a close due to injury eight years ago at the age of 32.
He immediately transitioned into coaching and was Defence Coach at Ulster between 2018 and 2022 before moving to Top14 side Clermont Auvergne for the 2022/23 season.
Payne has spent the past three years on the Scarlets coaching team, initially joining as Backs and Attack Coach before later overseeing the defence programme.
He enjoyed an illustrious playing career that saw him line out for the Chiefs, Crusaders and Blues in Super Rugby before moving to Ireland in 2011.
He played for Ulster for seven years and made his Ireland debut in November 2014 before lining out for the British & Irish Lions in 2017.
“I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to be joining Munster,” said Payne.
“Munster is a club with a proud history, strong values and a special connection with its supporters and community. As a family, we’re excited to become part of that.
“There is a huge amount of ambition across the club and I’m looking forward to working alongside the players and staff to help move the club forward.
“There is a lot to be excited about and I can’t wait to get started.”
Head Coach Clayton McMillan said: “Jared brings wide-ranging skills, having played and coached extensively in Ireland for 11 years as well as experiences in New Zealand, France and Wales.
“Over this time, he has coached both sides of the ball and developed an excellent reputation for empowering players and assisting them to fulfil their potential. I look forward to Jared and his family joining the club.
“I’m equally delighted that Mossy has extended his contract. The attack portfolio is vast, and I have always had the view that it is a two-person job. There is accountability to bring a higher level of detail to their respective areas of responsibility within our attack framework, and I believe that in Mossy and Jared, we have two innovative and detailed coaches who will work outstandingly well together.”
General Manager Ian Costello said: “Jared is a highly respected coach that we believe will be an excellent fit to work closely with Mossy and completes a very exciting and ambitious coaching team for next season.”
