Connacht and the IRFU have announced head coach Pete Wilkins will step down from the role with immediate effect. Cullie Tucker will continue to take charge in an interim capacity, as he had done through Wilkins’ recent illness, until the end of the season.
Wilkins was promoted to his current role under the then director of rugby Andy Friend ahead of the 2022-2023 season, helping to guide the club to the semi-finals of the United Rugby Championship. Previously he was defence coach for four seasons after his arrival in 2017, and in the 2021/22 campaign he had moved to the role of senior coach with responsibility for attack.
Connacht had already confirmed changes to their backroom team for next season with backs coach Mark Sexton moving to Ulster and defence coach Scott Fardy returning to Australia. Australian Rod Seib will join from the Brumbies during the summer with his role likely to be upgraded to that of head coach.
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The province recently announced the return of Billy Millard to Connacht, this time in the capacity of general manager. The Australian will leave his current position as director of rugby at Harlequins at season’s end to move to Galway. As part of a reshuffle, it was suggested there had been discussions about Wilkins reverting to defence coach.
Wilkins released a statement. It read: “It is with a heavy heart that I am announcing my departure from Connacht Rugby – the club and province that I have been so proud to call home for the last eight years.
“During this season, I have been having some very open and honest discussions about my future at the club. Although incredibly privileged to have been given the responsibility of leading the rugby programme here, the longer I have spent in the role, the further away I have found myself from the aspects of coaching not only that I most enjoy, but also that allow me to contribute most effectively to the team.
“As such, I have made the decision that it is best for the club, myself, and most importantly my family, that I step away with immediate effect. In doing so, the club and I agree it gives our players, staff and supporters clarity for the remainder of the season, and myself the opportunity to focus on returning to full health before my next coaching challenge.
“I am very grateful to all of the players that have worked so hard and been so eager to learn during this time, as well as the pro team staff who have given me such great support and friendship. To the wider staff of Connacht Rugby, the authenticity, pride, commitment and sense of humour that you bring to your work every day has always been an inspiration to me.
“To the Connacht supporters, it has been the most incredible privilege to have had this opportunity to be part of the Connacht Rugby family. This is a very special club, in an incredibly special part of the world.
“Beyond rugby, Galway has become our family home, and Sarah, Harry, Oscar and I have been blessed with the friendships and care that the wonderful people of Barna and the wider province have offered us. Connacht Abú.”
Connacht CEO Willie Ruane said: “Today is a sad day for everyone involved in Connacht Rugby. For the last eight years Pete Wilkins has been a colleague and friend to us all, and someone that has always put his heart and soul into trying to make us better and helping us to achieve the type of success that we are all striving for.
“In that time Pete has progressed from his initial role as defence coach to ultimately head coach of Connacht Rugby, and prior to his departure on sick leave, Pete had the second highest league win rate of any Connacht head coach in the professional era, and was the first in 15 years to achieve the number 1 seeding following the pool stages of the EPCR Challenge Cup.
“Needless to say, whilst we are disappointed to see Pete leave, we fully respect and support his decision and we wish him, his wife Sarah and his two sons Harry and Oscar all the very best for the years ahead”.
IRFU Performance Director David Humphreys said: “Pete has contributed an enormous amount to the growth of the game in Connacht, and Irish Rugby owes him a debt of gratitude for his dedication and commitment to the province. On behalf of the IRFU I would like to take the opportunity to thank Pete for his hard work over the last eight years and wish him and his family well in the future.”
