Kidney may look elsewhere for post

Rugby: Declan Kidney, the assistant Ireland coach to Eddie O'Sullivan, has been offered a new post within the IRFU. Kidney, whose position with the Irish team will not be renewed when his contract expires at the end of the season, reacted with courtesy to the opportunity and said he would consider it, but he made it clear he would be looking elsewhere for employment.

The union yesterday announced the creation of the new role, which involves the development of young Irish rugby players, and described it as a "key new role in Irish rugby".

"While obviously disappointed by my current contract not being renewed, I appreciate the offer of this new position from the union," said Kidney. "However, the offer in question is not a coaching position as such, therefore, while considering it, I will now be looking at all options open to me. In the meantime, I will as usual be concentrating on fulfilling my obligations to the best of my ability in the best interest of the team."

The IRFU presented the post as that of a performance manager for age grade rugby and are selling it as a critical position identified by them for the development of players in the age groups from school leaving to 21 years. They see the role as a key driving force within the sub-professional level and the principal interface between the rugby department and the national age-grade pathway and structures.

If Kidney accepted the post he would be required to design, develop and implement plans, process strategies and systems to ensure Ireland excels at age-grade levels - under-18, youth, under-18 schools, under-19 rugby World Cup and under-21, Six Nations and Rugby World Cup.

In addition, he would also plan for the growth and development of qualified and successful indigenous coaches.

Kidney has previously coached the Ireland schools and the Ireland under-19 teams, most notably the Ireland team that won the FIRA World Cup in 1998. He was also highly successful with the Munster team, making them one of the driving forces in the European game and took them to the brink of winning the Heineken European Cup before joining the Irish set-up.

According to the IRFU statement, O'Sullivan has no plans at this time to fill Kidney's position.

"We see an urgent need for a performance manager in age-grade rugby in order to provide leadership, direction and technical expertise in the implementation of a plan," said IRFU chief executive Philip Browne.

Browne also added: "Declan would, of course, always be considered for any front-line coaching role that might become available in Irish rugby and in which he was interested."

With Alan Solomons leaving the Ulster job for Northampton at the end of the season, there is one vacancy available already.

Meanwhile, the Ireland team to play Wales at Lansdowne Road on Sunday will be named tomorrow, while the match commissioner for Ireland's game against France has reported "there is no case to answer" in relation to an incident involving Fabien Pelous when Malcolm O'Kelly sustained a head injury.

The Ireland under-21 team to play Wales at the Sportsground, Galway on Friday (2.30) will also be announced tomorrow.

IRELAND UNDER-21 SQUAD: Forwards: Stephen Bennett (Bath), Declan Fitzpatrick (Belfast Harlequins), Denis Fogarty (Cork Constitution), David Gannon (Blackrock College), Conor Geoghegan (UCD), Jamie Heaslip (DU), Oisín Hennessy (Dungannon), Neil McComb (Dundee HSFP), David O'Brien (Old Belvedere), Brendan O'Connor (Cork Constitution), Shane O'Connor (Cork Constitution), John Wickham (Clontarf). Backs: Tommy Bowe (QUB), Andrew Finn (Dolphin), Michael Glancy (Loughborough University), John Hearty (Blackrock College), Richard Lane (UCC), Breffne O'Donnell (UL Bohemians), Tomás O'Leary (Cork Constitution), Robbie Shaw (London Wasps), Gareth Steenson (QUB), Glen Telford (Dungannon).