Enthusiasm all round as Kidney takes on Leinster challenge

Although he will not officially start his new three-year contract as Leinster's Director of Rugby until August 1st, Declan Kidney will immediately assume a hands-on role in helping to fill a fairly barren-looking coaching and management cupboard, as well as in the recruitment of four new players.

As expected, Kidney's new portfolio was formally confirmed yesterday after Leinster agreed a compensation package with Newport Gwent Dragons, with whom Kidney had signed a two-year deal a couple of weeks ago.

His August 1st starting date is but a technicality, as he is still under contract with theIRFU until July 31st in his now-dormant role as assistant coach but is not required by Eddie O'Sullivan in South Africa.

"I'd like to stress that Gwent Dragons have been brilliant in facilitating me," said Kidney last night. "I was very happy and very excited about the challenge there. The unfortunate demise of the Warriors had a silver lining for the Dragons in that six or seven players were coming on board, many of them internationals.

"But the Leinster offer meant that I could be closer to my family. I had a duty to inform them (the Dragons) of this offer, and Tony Brown and their board understood the personal side of this dilemma. I had no problem in fulfilling my contract there but their understanding attitude was brilliant. They are are extraordinarily good people."

Indeed, it is believed the Dragons' co-operative stance resulted in the compensation payment being lower than originally estimated, down to something in the region of €50,000 to 60,000.

As for taking over at Leinster, Kidney commented: "I'm looking forward to reacquanting myself with a lot of players who I've known from underage, the A team, and with the Ireland team over the last two and a half years. The few there I don't know are very exciting prospects, or else they wouldn't be there."

The Leinster Branch chief executive, Mick Dawson, admits Kidney will have an influential role in the choice of a new team manager, and especially a new assistant coach, following the departures of Ken Ging and Willie Anderson.

"I assume he will have his own ideas and we've put a few names in the loop for him as well," commented Dawson, who said Kidney will complete his new coaching ticket "in the near future". Two coaches who have been mentioned in dispatches are Connacht's Australian assistant, John McKee, who guided Buccaneers to the AIL semi-finals as well, and Clontarf's Kiwi head coach, Phil Werahiko.

Leinster have four slots to fill in their 34-man contracted squad for next season, with the priorities believed to be at prop and half-back.

They are likely to stick with Irish-qualified players, as Felipe Contepomi and Christian Warner are their registered overseas players.

It's believed they attempted to sign the Irish-born and Clongowes-educated winger Brian Carney, currently with Rugby League team Wigan and a member of the British league team, although he is currently recovering from a broken leg.

Kidney will immediately command the respect and loyalty of the Leinster squad and will help them reimpose self-discipline while restoring enthusiasm and self-belief.

Dawson said he was delighted to have secured Kidney as coach. "Declan is an outstanding coach with huge experience of the domestic, club and international game. Having secured the services of all our international players for the coming season, and with the number of quality young players coming through the system, I believe that Declan's expertise will help Leinster move forward."

Reggie Corrigan, the Leinster captain, was equally effusive about the announcement. "There's been a lot of talk going on with Leinster in the last couple of weeks, and speculation and everything else, and the decision was made earlier in the week that Gary (Ella) wouldn't be continuing with us anymore, so that left us in limbo a little bit as to who we were going to get.

"It was a bit of a nervy time and everybody was wondering, but now that it's been announced that it's somebody of Declan Kidney's calibre, it's unbelievable. I can't imagine anybody in the squad who wouldn't be happy with that decision. Most people have worked with him, they've had him at underage level. I think it's going to be a massive lift with the whole squad.

"Everyone will have the ultimate respect for him because he's been to two finals already and we'll be drawing on all his experience to try and get us there."