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McFarland has also coached Ireland U20 and Ireland A. Cathal Noonan/INPHO

Connacht's highly rated forwards coach is joining a Pro12 rival next year

Dan McFarland is swapping Galway for Glasgow.

WE’VE KNOWN for a while that Connacht forwards coach Dan McFarland is leaving at the end of the current Pro12 season to pursue ‘different challenges’ and it turns out the task he has chosen to undertake will see him in direct competition with his old team in the next campaign.

McFarland, who has been credited for developing some exciting young Connacht forwards like prop Denis Buckley, will be joining the Glasgow coaching staff under head coach Gregor Townsend.

The westerners have hit a rough patch of form in the last few weeks, losing their last three league games, but some of the forwards have still given strong individual performances.

If they held an annual jackling competition in the manner of the GAA’s puc fada, then Buckley could be a contender with poaching skills like this.

Observatoire Béarnais / YouTube

Gregor Townsend called McFarland a ‘high quality technical coach’ and the Galway man is looking forward to a new challenge.

“Connacht has been such a large part of my life for such a long time, but I’m excited about this next stage of my career,” McFarland said in a statement.

“Glasgow regularly finish in the top four in the Pro12 and have made huge progress over the last few seasons, reaching their first major final last year. I’m looking forward to moving to Glasgow with my family at the end of the season and working with the players and coaches over the summer, to prepare for the new campaign.”

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6 Comments
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    Mute Barry Mullane
    Favourite Barry Mullane
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    Apr 13th 2015, 3:07 PM

    Big blow for Connacht but more recognition for the excellent coaches being produced by Ireland.

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    Mute Shane O'Donnell
    Favourite Shane O'Donnell
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    Apr 13th 2015, 3:34 PM

    How do you know he’s a big loss?

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    Mute ScewMadd
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    Apr 13th 2015, 3:49 PM

    Because he’s an excellent coach, who consistently produced strong players from the academy and improved players who join the team, and coached Connacht to have a strong maul.

    Generally, losing that type of a person isn’t a positive.

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    Mute Shane O'Donnell
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    Apr 13th 2015, 4:12 PM

    he hardly produced these guys all on his own, I’m sure he played a part but seems like he’s getting the credit for a lot of work different people are putting into the academy and the school system in Connacht. Suppose he Must he a good coach if he’s bring poached by Glasgow.

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    Mute Eamonn Mac Lughadha
    Favourite Eamonn Mac Lughadha
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    Apr 13th 2015, 7:05 PM

    Good poach by Glasgow , but there’s certainly PR speak in ‘ I’m looking forward to living in Glasgow’

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    Mute Tommy Leydon
    Favourite Tommy Leydon
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    Apr 14th 2015, 9:56 AM

    Not many academy players in Ireland reckoning for all their alleged fantastic development and coaching. Where in the world would you like to move your family to if you had a choice of coaching the local club?? Gloucester, Grenoble, Galway, no no I’ll go to Glasgow where not even the SRFU give a shit. Opportunity now to bring in someone in line with the ambition. Sincere good wishes to him and it will probably help both move forward.

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