Leinster Rugby have announced their management team for the coming season. Paul McNaughton has been appointed as team manager, with Bobby Byrne, Roly Meates and Gerry Murphy making up coach Declan Kidney's three-man team of assistants.
Former Greystones, Wanderers and Leinster player McNaughton won 15 senior caps for Ireland at centre during his playing career.
Byrne, a former UCD, Blackrock College and Terenure College skipper, has coached UCD, Ireland Students, Terenure, Leinster Schools and the Ireland Schools side.
Meates, like Byrne a former tight-head prop, has coached the Ireland senior side, the Irish Universities team, Leinster, was chairman of selectors for the IRFU and has also worked at All-Ireland League level with Dublin University and Wanderers, whom he also played for.
Murphy, another former Dublin Uni and Wanderers man, completes the line-up of assistant coaches. His coaching career began at Clontarf before going on to take charge of the Ireland Under-21 squad and the Development squad that toured South Africa. The Dubliner then led the Irish senior side from 1992-’95. He also spent six years coaching with Terenure College.
Speaking today, Leinster Rugby's chief executive, Michael Dawson, said: "We are pleased to have assembled a management team for Leinster Rugby which combines substantial capability and in-depth experience in the various strands that are important to a professional rugby set-up.
“I am delighted to confirm the backroom team for the coming season. Paul McNaughton, Bobby Byrne and Gerry Murphy will bring great expertise allied to the experience of Roly Meates and the remainder of our technical staff who we have retained.
“These are exciting times for Leinster and I welcome all of our new appointments. I am confident that we have the right blend to take Leinster forward.”
Dawson also confirmed that Leinster Rugby is now the official name of the Leinster senior team.
Filed by James Boylan
