Munster right to focus on domestic, says CEO

Munster chief executive Garrett Fitzgerald said that they did not set out to appoint an all-Irish coaching team for next season but he is pleased that the management are all steeped in the game in the province.

He confirmed that Eddie O’Sullivan had been interviewed for the backs coach position and that the former Irish coach had indicated to them that he had other opportunities in the offing.

Fitzgerald revealed that four coaches – two Irish and two foreign – were interviewed before Brian Walsh was appointed.

"It was never a policy decision to appoint all Irish coaches. We wanted to get what is best for Munster and as it turns out that's what we've ended up with. We didn't set out with a policy to do that. We looked extensively at who was available," he said. Change emphasis He continued that Munster's focus under Anthony Foley is to change significantly from next season with much more emphasis on the Pro12.

The Munster CEO said they would be targeting success in the league as the top priority given the structure will now decide who qualifies for the newly formed Rugby Champions Cup, with just one Irish side guaranteed qualification.

“You don’t go into Europe unless you perform in the Rabo, that’s the way it is. Before you could go to sleep, get up in the morning and you would still be in Europe. It’s now a challenge and is based on meritocracy with slight deviations at the end of it.

“The domestic league has to be your priority all the time, that’s your bread and butter, that’s what you have to do. I think it will be a much better Pro12 League as a consequence of it. The Rabo determines whether you get into Europe and your position will determine your seeding, your historical performance in Europe won’t make any difference, so it’s going much more like the Champions League model. If you don’t perform then you won’t get rewarded.

"We probably have too much of an emphasis in Irish rugby on the Heineken Cup and the new Champions Cup. At the end of the day it is six matches in the season, we play 22 in the Pro12. The Pro12 is our domestic league. It is what you earn your bread and butter from," he said.

Munster will work hard on getting fans to buy into the league, with a big emphasis being placed on the competition shaping the success or otherwise of their season.

"Attendances at rugby matches, all sporting events, the Premiership in England even, with the exception of the top few teams, all attendances are dwindling. So you have to perform as a team in the same way in those games as you do in the Heineken Cup. You have to try to develop and atmosphere and a product, into something they want to go to and enjoy going to, that's the challenge for us," he added. Naming rights

He also said that they would again look after naming rights for Thomond Park in a bid to raise finance, while he also disclosed that the redevelopment of Musgrave Park will be completed by December.

However, the development of the permanent training facility at University of Limerick had suffered a six months delay as it was decided to change the plans and that facility will not be finished until 2016.

Meanwhile, Fitzgerald confirmed Munster have completed their signings for next season and centre James Downey is leaving the province.