MUNSTER RUGBY HAVE this afternoon announced that CEO Garrett Fitzgerald is to retire next month.
The long-serving boss has been at the helm of the southern province since 1999, a 20-year run that included two European Cup wins and the redevelopment of Thomond Park.
Philip Quinn has operated as Munster’s acting CEO in recent months, with Fitzgerald on leave due to illness, and Quinn will continue in the role as Munster and the IRFU carry out the recruitment process to find a full-time successor.
“I look back on my time in Munster Rugby with the fondest of memories. I have experienced fantastic days, working with great people in a unique environment, and for this I am very grateful,” Fitzgerald said in a statement released by the province today.
“A strong identity and unique culture are two of Munster Rugby’s greatest assets, and with the ever-changing rugby landscape it is this culture and a shared belief system that sees the province consistently thrive at the highest level.
I believe harnessing all that is good about Munster Rugby will lead to future success for the province, and I look forward to seeing the brand and organisation continue to go from strength to strength.”
IRFU CEO Philip Browne moved to wish Fitzgerald well in his retirement.
“Garrett has transformed Munster Rugby. He has succeeded in keeping the very best of the amateur era and ethos at the club, while building it into a professional sports club that is the envy of many throughout the rugby world.
“On a personal level, I would like to thank Garrett for his openness, his professionalism and his friendship, and I thank Áine, and all Garrett’s family, for allowing us to have so much of his time and energy, for all these years.”
Gavan Casey is joined by Murray Kinsella and Sean Farrell for a review of the 2018/19 season, and cast an eye forward to next year and the Rugby World Cup in Japan.:
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Can’t wish anything but the best of luck in his retirement. Garrett took munster from an amateur club with an amateur ethos to one of the most recognisable and successful clubs and brands in the world. He can certainly look back on what he achieved with huge pride.
@Jim Demps: Agree with his achievement taking us out of the amateur era. However he stayed too long in the role. The investment and structures today are behind all the other provinces.
@Smiley: good to see him go! Been there way to long!! Imagine if someone was in that position in a normal business for that length of time… ridiculous
@Smiley: renovated thomond park and est. the UL training facility?
@Smiley: ah only one other province has a purpose build stadium. Have had more internationals in the last 20 years than 2 others combined. I’m not sure you know what you’re talking about
@Smiley:
I believe the “NAME” was there before he came along “one of the most recognisable and successful clubs and brands in the Rugby World”.
Thank you GF for all the great days at Munster rugby
Disaster!! Fitzgerald sacked…by himself. Crisis at Minster as CEO sacks himself…
sorry, im trying to write the indos headline…
Good luck Garrett
@PScald: I was thinking more along the lines of doubling down on the loss of identity followed by rumouring Barend Van Graan for the role in a further south Africanisation of the province while going on to say munster don’t develop any talent of their own and only poach lads from other places. Bloody turnip eaters.
@PScald: haha don’t give Ruaidhri O’Connor ideas!
Good riddance, in my opinion.
He leaves a club who are now eight years without a trophy and are also heavily in debt, who are far behind the other provinces in producing players.
@Treaty Bhoy: why do you do it ? still no answer ?
@k mcnamara:
And why dou you do it ??
Clearly the IRFU have had enough of his Mis management. I can’t wait for tomorrows indo to get the real story, and then Monday’s one where they print all their apologies.
@Bungee Aky: The real story is he had major surgery last year and has been out of work recovering for the last year and isn’t capable of filling the job requirements anymore
@Bungee Aky: you’re some troll
@Bungee Aky: how’s you kid bungee? Still in hospital? You been at many underage gaa games recently to send emails and call for prescriptions?
@Eoin Murphy: you have the sense of humour of a badly injured car crash victim.
@Roberts Mel: yes, no.
@Bungee Aky: that’s original I’ll give you that
@Bungee Aky: Nasty and totally uncalled for after the man’s health difficulties. I’d say ‘shame on you’ but you probably don’t understand the concept.
All Joking aside
The FAI need to get someone of his calibre on board, experience of the amateur and professional game, strong governance, financial capabilities, contract negotiating, and all the other skills they are devoid of.
@Bungee Aky: you just posted a big fat long comment on the chelsea arsenal live blog on how you’d watch the ‘odd European game’ but find “soccer” very boring. You clearly have no idea whatsoever with what your talking about and just copy what other posters (regardless of the fact they’re right) say. Don’t bother giving your opinion on football
@Eoin Murphy: who did I copy?
@Bungee Aky: every comment on the john delaney article. It could be your own independent opinion but its so clear you just looked at them and jumped on the bandwagon
@Eoin Murphy: so it’s my own opinion now?
@Bungee Aky: what im saying is you hark on about how “soccer” is so boring and then you give your opinion on something you clearly dont have a clue about, on a completely unrelated rugby article
Fair dues to him, although he’s shown a severe lack of ambition over the last 10 years.
Best wishes to him, hope he recovers from his illness and enjoys his well earned retirement.
New CEO will have to get the Thomond PK financial monkey off Munsters back. Foregoing 10 years ticket income to part own a stadium was a strategic error. It meant Munster were down circa a million a year in the rugby spend compared to other provinces. Shades of Pairc Ui Caoimh.
The best of luck to him. He did well ! However he did stay on to long. Maybe if he stepped out at the end of the Paul O Connell era his legacy might have been stronger?