ULSTER RUGBY CHIEF yesterday confirmed that the man that led them into the Heineken Cup quarter-finals this year would not be in charge come next season.

And the scramble for the Ravenhill job has begun.

Last night, former All Blacks star John Kirwan admitted to Eoin McDevitt on Newstalk’s Off the Ball, that he’d be open to an approach from the Irish province, given the news that Brian McLaughlin was set to ‘move upstairs’.

Kirwan is currently working in Italy, having finished up as Japan national team manager after last year’s Rugby World Cup in his native New Zealand.

“I definitely [want to get back into coaching]… I’m just in between jobs at the minute, he said. “I’ve always worked for Sky Italy, even when I was doing my Japanese job, it’s sort of a been a bit of a hobby really. And I love watching the Six Nations so it’s been great.

“But I’m definitely looking for a new coaching role. I’m just waiting for the right one to come along.”

And, given the vacancy at Ulster, would that – possibly – be the right one, should it come along?

“Yeah, I’d love to stay in Europea, I’d love to get a club that has aspirations for winning a Heineken Cup every year and do pretty well at it. So yeah, I’d listen to any offers. I think there’s been a bit of politics coming out of Ulster at the moment so I don’t know what’s going on, I certainly haven’t had any contact anyway.

“Like I said, for me I’m really looking for a club that has aspirations to win, I’m really keen to get involved in a side that wants to go places. So if Ulster are keen on winning the Heineken Cup and winning the Robo Cup or whatever it’s called, I’d be keen to be involved.”

Earls and Leamy both pen extensions to Munster deals

Dan Parks retires from Scotland with immediate effect