O'Sullivan joins Irish set-up

Eddie O'Sullivan will fill the vacancy created by Philip Danaher's departure as the new assistant coach of the Ireland team. He will assist Warren Gatland in next year's Six Nations Championship and will also have a broader development role as a backs coach specialist as part of his three-year contract with the IRFU.

Until recently assistant coach to the USA team (where, ironically, he had coached the forwards for two and a half years), O'Sullivan had been in negotiations to take over from Jack Clarke as the Eagles' coach. But the option of joining the Irish coaching set-up suddenly came about last Wednesday evening and he chose the Irish job for family and rugby reasons.

"We had gone a long way down the road with regard to the terms and conditions, and we were planning to move to the West Coast in the new year," said O'Sullivan from London yesterday, where he attended an International Board seminar in his last official function for the USA Rugby Federation.

"I wouldn't say it was definite that I was taking over from Jack, but it looked very much like I would be," said O'Sullivan.

Regarding the Ireland appointment, he said: "I was very happy with the chat I had with Warren and Donal, and we took it from there and put the thing in motion. My understanding is that I will be primarily the backs coach, which is my priority, but I will have a list of other duties, such as working with the under-21s, the under-19s and provincial sides."

Aside from the USA Eagles, O'Sullivan has had a wide range of coaching experience, with Connacht, Ireland under-21s, Blackrock College, Galwegians and Buccaneers, and success has tended to follow him wherever he goes.

O'Sullivan was a development officer with the IRFU from 1988 to '91, and during his subsequent six seasons with the Connacht coaching set-up, the province enjoyed some marked improvement. From 1991 to '95, O'Sullivan assisted Mick Browne at Blackrock for two years before guiding them to two strong tilts at the AIL Division One title.

After a year with Galwegians, O'Sullivan guided Buccaneers into the AIL Division One, securing a top four berth and a place in last year's semi-finals in their first season in the top flight.

Like the US, Buccaneers will have mixed feelings about his appointment. The second season in Division One was always going to be more difficult, especially after the retirement of senior players such as Brian Rigney and Noel Mannion.

"It's tougher on them because they have less time to make a decision (about an alternative coach)," acknowledged O'Sullivan. "It's left them a bit high and dry, which is regretful, but what can I do? But, no less than the USA, they (Buccs) wished me well."

Yesterday's statement by the IRFU also confirmed that "following a meeting with the national team management, it is confirmed by the IRFU that both Warren Gatland, coach, and Donal Lenihan, manager, will be fulfilling their contractual commitment to the IRFU until the end of the Six Nations Championship."