Johnny Watterson on the huge number of foreign coaches here and IRFU efforts to produce more indigenous mentors

With part one of the All-Ireland League already under way, a look at the first and second division sides in this season's competition indicates Ireland have not been shy in buying into foreign coaching aid. Eleven of the 16 AIB Division One clubs and nine in Division Two have non-Irish coaches or directors of rugby.

That in combination with South Africa's Steph Nel being in charge in Connacht, another South African, Alan Solomons, in Ulster and Australia's Matt Williams and Alan Gaffney controlling Leinster and Munster respectively, indicates the middle tiers of the game of rugby in Ireland is largely in the hands of coaches from abroad, most of them from the Southern Hemisphere.

While recognising the obvious need and the benefits of bringing overseas coaches into the Irish system, the IRFU also see it as a problem area, which they have set about addressing.

"Our official view is that we would like to see more indigenous coaches involved at various levels. It concerns the union, although there is always need to have foreign coaches in the system," says IRFU director of rugby development Eddie Wigglesworth.

"We will be holding ongoing discussions with a view to implementing a structure that can produce Irish coaches capable of coaching both professional and amateur rugby in this country. We need to develop a cadre of people who will do this job. At this stage there's no quick fix. It's something we have been thinking about for some time."

Most of the overseas coaching staff have been in place since last year but a few new faces are coming into this season's pool. Buccaneers have brought in New Zealander John McKee. McKee comes to Ericsson Park via a stint as forwards coach with French side Montferrand and has been offered a two-year contract with the midlands side.

Garryowen have attracted John Warr, a former Australian schools and under-21 coach. Warr had been involved with the Wallaby under-21s and has also been involved in tuition with the elite Australian coaches. Warr fills the vacancy left by New Zealander Andy Earl, who has moved to Dungannon, last season's man Willie Anderson having taken up a position as forwards coach to the Leinster team.

At Lakelands, Terenure have replaced player-coach Kevin Putt with former Carlow coach Kim Thurbon, who guided the Oak Park club up the All-Ireland League ladder and into Division One. Putt has gone to South Africa, to coach with Natal Sharks.

Cork Constitution, who lost Brian Hickey at the end of last season to a "promotion" into the Munster set-up, welcome back Christy Cantillon, while Carlow again go for an overseas instructor, this time from South Africa. Dan van Zyl, still in his early 30s, takes over for this year's campaign.

At Lansdowne, Harry Williams remains in situ as head coach with Andy Doyle and Kurt McQuilken also putting their shoulder to the wheel as assistants for the season.

Promoted sides UL Bohemians and Belfast Harlequins stick with the men who got them there last season. Harlequins stay with former Ballymena coach, South African Andre Bester, while the Limerick team will again look to English man Mike Tewkesbury for inspiration.

One of the reasons put forward for the Irish exclusion from the AIL coaching pot is the amount of time required to coach a top side. Decisions to leave largely well-paid jobs in Ireland for a stint of club coaching are not taken lightly and generally, the coaching jobs are not as well financially rewarded.

"The reality is that to coach an AIL side is virtually a full-time job and Irish clubs have recognised that for some time. It is difficult to get guys to leave what are largely well paid jobs and how we could fund this sort of approach is the biggest question. I'd love to contract 14 or 15 coaches in the AIL but we don't have the money to do that. It is a highly expensive exercise," says Wigglesworth.

"The union don't have the money to bridge the gap between highly paid jobs outside of rugby and coaching jobs in clubs."

In Division One five clubs have an Irish coach, Williams at Lansdowne, Dara Rowley and Aidan Kenna at UCD, Geoff Moylan at AIL champions Shannon, Cantillon at Cork Constitution and Galwegians with Kevin Dineen.