Declan Kidney's future within the Irish management structure became a subject of conjecture again yesterday when he was obliged to dispel rumours of his impending resignation which had been sparked by one newspaper report and radio sports bulletins, writes Gerry Thornley.

The Irish assistant coach, who is not expected to be part of Eddie O'Sullivan's management ticket after his contract expires in the summer given the less than communicative coaching relationship between the two, looked uncomfortable with the attention this rumour had generated.

The notion that Kidney would walk out on the Irish squad on the eve of the Six Nations would have seemed totally out of character. "I don't know anything about any article," said Kidney. "I'm getting ready for a hugely important match on Saturday. It's a brilliant day for Paul O'Connell and I suppose the people who wrote that don't really know me, do they? I'd have to think hard about my life, but I'm not sure I've resigned from anything yet.

"I took on a job and I'll do it to the best of my ability."

Asked about the many rumours linking him with the prospective end-of-season merry-go-round in England, Kidney commented: "I'm not going to go into a public debate about my future because I'm in negotiations with the union and meetings have happened there."