McQuilkin joins Leinster

Leinster rugby have announced the appointment of Kurt McQuilkin as their new defence coach while former fitness adviser Jason Cowman has returned to the backroom team as strength-and-conditioning coach.

McQuilkin, 41 and a Kiwi by birth, won five caps in the centre for Ireland and 32 for Leinster, captaining them to the interprovincial title in 1997/98 season.

His coaching CV includes Samoa King Country in the New Zealand provincial championship for two seasons. He coached the Ireland under-19 squad for three years, including the 1998 World Cup win in France - a team that produced Brian O'Driscoll and Donncha O'Callaghan - the Irish under-21s for one season and the national development and sevens squads. There were also spells with Lansdowne, Greystones and the Leinster under-20s.

"I received a call right out of the blue from Michael (Cheika) towards the end of last season where I had been working as a technical analyst in the IRFU's high-performance unit," said McQuilkin.

"Leinster Rugby is a totally different animal from when I first arrived. The professional running of the team then compared to now is like night and day and I have been really impressed by the facilities and the strength of the squad."

Cowman replaces Brad Harrington, who has returned home to take up a contract with the Super 14 franchise the New South Wales Waratahs.

The 31-year-old was senior fitness adviser with Leinster before leaving to complete a Masters in Exercise Physiology from Florida University.

In November 2003 he became national fitness adviser for the IRFU Academy players and the Ireland under-21 side.

The province also confirmed yesterday O'Driscoll would retain the captaincy, but the returning Ireland secondrow Leo Cullen and the former Australia scrumhalf Chris Whitaker have been named as part of the "leadership team".

Leinster's pre-season will consist of an away friendly against Biarritz on August 31st followed by a week-long camp in Barcelona before a game against Bath at the Recreation Ground on Friday, September 7th (kick-off 6.30pm).