Declan Kidney remains the odds-on favourite to replace Eddie O'Sullivan as the next head-coach of Ireland, but not until late June or early July at the earliest.
RTÉ Sport understands that talks between Kidney and the IRFU are continuing apace.
However, with Munster's involvement in the Heineken Cup final it is unlikely that Kidney will take charge for the game against the Barbarians and the summer Test matches with New Zealand and Australia in June.
An interim team headed by Connacht coach Michael Bradley is expected to take charge for a short period until those summer matches are completed.
It's believed that Kidney will travel to New Zealand and Australia for Ireland’s games there, but only as an observer before taking charge himself.
