Munster rebuilding coaching panel

NEWS: Munster is rebuilding the Irish province’s coaching panel after the high-profile departures of head coach Graham Rowntree and forwards coach Andi Kyriacou.

Munster attack coach Mike Prendergast has followed in the footsteps of defence coach Denis Leamy by signing a two-year contract extension.

On the same day Leamy committed to the province, his former Munster teammate Prendergast did the same.

The now-departed Graham Rowntree recruited the pair when the Englishman took on the head coach role in 2022.

They were also part of Munster’s successful United Rugby Championship campaign in their first season in charge.

Rowntree’s exit also ushered in the departure of forwards coach Andi Kyriacou, but Leamy and Prendergast have ensured that there will not be wholesale changes at Thomond Park.

Prior to joining Munster, the former scrumhalf, Prendergast, held a number of jobs in France.

Now in his third season at Munster, Prendergast returned to the province in 2022 after a hugely successful 10-year spell in France coaching the likes of Racing 92, Stade Francais, Oyonnax and Grenoble.

He made an immediate impact and played a key role as the province played some fantastic rugby on their way to a thrilling URC title win in 2022/23.

The attack continued to flourish last season with Munster topping the URC table at the end of the regular season before bowing out at the semifinal stage.

A former Munster, Bourgoin and Gloucester scrumhalf, Prendergast held head coach and Director of Rugby roles with Young Munster RFC on completion of his playing career.