O'Sullivan has talks with Super 15 team

EDDIE O’SULLIVAN is in line for a return to full-time coaching after holding talks with Australian Super 15 franchise the Western Force.

O’Sullivan, Ireland head coach from 2001 to 2008 and US Eagles coach up until last year’s World Cup, reportedly impressed the Force hierarchy, who are conducting a global search following Richard Graham’s move to the Queensland Reds next season.

O’Sullivan’s agent, John Baker, also confirmed to The Irish Times last night the 53-year-old is a contender for the vacant Auckland Blues job, a role Leinster coach Joe Schmidt recently ruled himself out of the running for.

“Eddie has not been down to Australia but he has held preliminary talks with the Force,” Baker said. “It is for a coaching position, not necessarily the head coaching position, as the talks have not reached that stage yet.

“There is also an interest in the vacant position at the Auckland Blues,” Baker added.

Former Leinster coach Michael Cheika was the initial favourite for the Force position, where Wallaby flanker David Pocock is currently under contract. However, Cheika is believed to be seeking a role in England, having just been released by Stade Français after two unsuccessful seasons.

O’Sullivan also admitted last April he applied for vacant coaching positions at the Cardiff Blues and Gloucester, although the Cork native was not considered for a return to working in Ireland despite the recent head coaching appointments at Munster and Ulster of New Zealanders Rob Penney and Mark Anscombe.

Other coaches believed to be on the Force short list to replace Graham are Connacht backs coach Brian Melrose, John Mulvihill, who was previously with Navan RFC, and Tim Lane.

Meanwhile, Geordan Murphy has announced his retirement from international rugby.

The 34-year-old Leicester Tigers fullback told the Leicester Mercury newspaper that not making the Ireland squad for the three-Test tour to New Zealand next month merely confirmed the timing was right to reveal his decision.

He confirmed he would be communicating his intention to step down in a phone call to Ireland coach Declan Kidney.

Murphy considered calling time on his Test career after the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand but agreed not to make any announcement until after the recent Six Nations Championship in case he was required to step in because of injury.

Murphy explained: “I am not in (the squad) and you know when it’s time to hang up your boots at any level. I have had some tremendous memories with the squad but it is time for some young lads to come in and prepare for the next World Cup.

“I haven’t spoken to him (Kidney) about it, but I am going to give him a shout. That’s it.”

Murphy won 72 caps for Ireland, a tally, that would have been even higher but for a number of serious injuries, scoring 18 tries, one conversion, one penalty and a drop goal.

There was also the rather consequential matter of debating the Ireland fullback jersey with players of the calibre of Girvan Dempsey and latterly, the European player of the year, Rob Kearney.

He made his debut against the USA in Singer Family Park, in Manchester, New Hampshire, on June 10th, 2000 and played his final Test match in last year’s World Cup pool match against Russia when coming on as a replacement for Keith Earls in the centre.

He played two Tests for the British and Irish Lions in 2005, against Argentina in a pre-tour game and then against the All Blacks in Auckland.

He played in two World Cups (2007 and 2011) and was an integral part of Ireland’s Grand Slam success in 2009, playing four of the five matches.

It was Murphy who sparked wild celebrations in the Millennium Stadium against Wales when he fielded Stephen Jones’s penalty attempt that dipped under the bar, ran across touch and goal, before hoofing the ball into the crowd to bring the match to a finish and end a 61-year wait for Irish rugby.

He played fullback, wing and centre for his country and was arguably the most naturally gifted player of his generation.

He will continue to play for the Tigers as he has still has one year to run on his contract at Leicester.

He admitted recently: “I’m contracted next season and I will have had a hell of an innings at that stage. You don’t get many one-club men, a few maybe, but I love Leicester. I don’t understand the feeling of playing for anyone else. It feels like home.

“There have been options to move to other clubs, to France, but I never did. That’s what I always tell younger players. I’ve stayed here because I’ve enjoyed it and wanted to be part of a successful team, and Leicester have usually been there or thereabouts.”

Murphy’s immediate priority will be captaining the Tigers in Saturday’s Premiership final against Harlequins.