MUNSTER WILL continue to strive for success in the Heineken Cup and the RaboDirect Pro12 this season and will not allow Tony McGahan’s impending departure to have an impact, according to forwards coach Anthony Foley.
Munster yesterday confirmed that McGahan will be departing at the end of the season.
McGahan did not attend a press conference in Limerick yesterday. He is due to be confirmed as Australian defence coach at an ARU board meeting on Friday.
Foley said yesterday he would be flattered to be considered McGahan’s successor.
Foley, who took over as forwards coach this season having held a number of coaching positions since he retired four years ago, said he expects a lot of interest in the position.
“I don’t know what the future holds, to be honest. I think you’d be flattered to have your name associated with it. There will be a lot of good coaches coming in for that job,” said Foley, who was defence coach last season and had been in charge of the Munster A for two seasons.
“It’s a great job. Munster are a great club to be involved in and I’ve been fortunate enough to be involved with them all my career.
“What I know is it’s a great place to learn your trade. I know it’s a great place for other coaches. You just look back down the list of coaches that have been here: Deccie [Declan Kidney]), Gaffer [Alan Gaffney], and Tony [McGahan]. They all seem to go on to bigger and better things.
“It’s a great springboard, stepping stone, for ambitious coaches but I tell you one thing, you need to be fully aware of what you’re getting into here, and I’m sure that’s something they will take into account when they’re picking a successor,” said Foley.
The former Munster captain said McGahan had informed them of his departure on Tuesday morning and that they were determined it would not impact on their preparations for the Pro12 game against Cardiff on Friday night, or the remainder of the season.
“We were all called to a meeting and all the management were informed and the players were informed post-training. There has been no interference with our preparation for this weekend. The boys have 24 to 48 hours to digest [the news] and make sure they are ready to play Cardiff on Friday night, which is the most important thing for this squad at the moment.
“The way it has been handled has been very professional. You expect nothing else out of Tony,” added Foley, who has been in charge of the Ireland Wolfhounds with Eric Elwood for the past two seasons.
Foley said McGahan’s departure from Munster after over seven seasons – he was defence coach for three and half seasons, including the Heineken Cup wins in 2006 and 2008 – would not have an impact on the squad during the rest of the campaign.
“There is a lot to play for this year. There is the Rabo and the quarter-final of the Heineken Cup in a local derby coming up, so Tony would like to think it is not fully there yet. Also, the coaching party and the squad are . . . not looking beyond him. That’s us being professional . . . That’s what we need to be as a team and as a squad,” said Foley.
