ALL BLACKS LEGEND John Kirwan has stepped down as head coach of Super Rugby side Auckland Blues.
Kirwan has been in the role for the past three years, but announced that he would not seek to extend his stay after presiding over the franchise’s worst-ever season.
The former Italy and Japan coach had submitted a proposal to the board aimed at continuing his involvement but later reconsidered.
The Blues finished last in Super Rugby’s New Zealand conference this season and second bottom overall with just three wins to their name.
“People who know me well know that I do not walk away from a challenge and that was what was driving me because I know what has been set-up in terms of organisational structure in the last two years,” Kirwan said.
However I always said that if I didn’t bring about the results that the players, the club and the fans wanted, then I would step aside.
Kirwan, 50, made no comment about his next move during Friday’s announcement. As recently as 2012, the World Cup-winning All Black indicated that he would be interested in taking over at both Ulster and Munster, and he could again be tempted by a move to Ireland and the vacant Leinster post.
It looks increasingly likely that Leo Cullen will lead the province into the new season, with Leinster bosses taken aback by the lack of high-profile candidates interested in succeeding Matt O’Connor.
Meanwhile former All-Blacks centre Tana Umaga is widely tipped as Kirwan’s most likely successor in Auckland.
The David Connolly(?) story was the best!
Connolly became big headed when they named the train station after him. I knew it was a mistake.
@GARFARKLE: I hope he doesn’t turn out like Whitney Heuston.
@John Smith: must’ve indulged in Dutch culture a bit too much when he played reserve football there
@Armchair Follower: brilliant
@Armchair Follower: she did go off the rails in fairness
@GARFARKLE: bit of a ceannt alright
Reid was treated disgracefully. He wasn’t the Irish messi – he could however do something few others in the team were capable of – play a forward pass and keep possession.
@Colm O’Sullivan: And, play the guitar.
Good luck to arter, he has been weak for us in most of the games he has played.
How many grannies did Stephen ireland-ish say he had again ? Lol
@paul fennelly For the record, 1. Roy Keane complained about the training facilities several times during home matches before the World Cup. 2. McCarthy promised everything would be sorted by the World Cup. 3. Keane threatened to walk out of tournament on reaching Saipan because of the substandard facilities 4. He was convinced to stay for the sake of the fans 5. Next morning McCarthy called a meeting with everyone involved in the squad except for Keane and then he sent someone for Keane after everyone else had turned up. He confronted him in front of everyone about an interview only just published that he had given several days before and after an argument he sent Keane home. RESULT Keane was SENT home. This is fact, why do people insist that he walked out?
@John Mullin: You obviously haven’t read his own book. Funny as you sound like such a fan
Stephen Ireland’s career went downhill when granny-gate happened for both club and country. His head has never been screwed on. Only himself to blame.