Jim Williams is set to leave Munster after being offered the job of assistant coach to Robbie Deans with the Australian national team.
The former Wallaby has a year remaining on his contract but is free to leave any time after finalising an agreement with the Australian Rugby Union (ARU) in the last few days. He has indicated, however, that his work with Munster is not finished yet.
"Being a part of the Munster set-up over the past eight seasons has been one of the greats periods of my career professionally while on a personal level, my wife Megan and me couldn't have asked for a better environment for us and our family," he said today.
"All that considered, there is a job still to be done. We are mid way through what has been a good season but there is a lot of rugby to be played yet. There's lot to play for. Now I just want to do whatever I can to help Munster achieve what we set out to at the start of the season."
Munster will begin the difficult process of replacing Williams immediately.
"From our own perspective we are obviously disappointed to see Jim go," said Munster chief executive Garrett Fitzgerald today. "He has been a huge asset to us both as a player and more recently as a coach. However, we do recognise the honour and importance of his new role and wish him every success."
Williams joined Munster at the start of the 2001/2002 season and went on to earn 74 caps for the retiring at the end of the 2004/2005 season and joining the coaching staff.
He captained Munster to a Celtic League win in over Neath in 2003 but despite his successes with the province the lure of Wallabies was too much to turn down.
"To be asked to coach at national level is such a huge honour and one that any coach would jump at," said Williams. "It's an opportunity that doesn't come around too often and I am really looking forward to working with Robbie Deans.
"It's an exciting challenge at a time when Australian rugby maybe needs to go in a different direction and I'm looking forward to being part of that process."
Declan Kidney today paid tribute to the former backrow. "While never wanting to lose a member of the Munster family we fully understand the honour been bestowed on Jim by his national team. We appreciate the contribution he's made to Munster rugby and we wish him and his family all the best for the future," said the Munster coach.
Williams, who played 14 Tests in Australia's backrow between 1999 and 2000, will work alongside forwards coach Michael Foley as part of a streamlined Wallabies back-room team.
