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Leinster extend Jacques Nienaber, Tyler Bleyandaal and Robin McBryde coaching deals

Jacques Nienaber will remain with Leinster until the end of the 2026/27 season at least
Jacques Nienaber will remain with Leinster until the end of the 2026/27 season at least

Leinster have confirmed contract extensions for coaches Jacques Nienaber, Tyler Bleyendaal and Robin McBryde.

The new deals will see the trio remain with the BKT URC champions until the end of the 2026/27 season at least.

Senior coach Nienaber joined the club after helping South Africa to win back-to-back World Cups in 2023.

The news puts to an end speculation that the 52-year old defence specialist, who enjoyed a succesful international management partnership with Rassie Erasmus that included a Lions Series win in 2021, might make a return to the Springboks ahead the 2027 World Cup in Australia.

Bleyendaal (above) joined Leinster at the start of last season and works primarily as an attack coach, while McBryde, who has been at the province since 2019, is a scrum specialist.

"I think we can all appreciate the work that Robin, Jacques and Tyler have done but also the mark that they have left and are leaving on Leinster in their time here," head coach Leo Cullen said.

"They have all brought tons of relevant experience and a different perspective to how we do things and I think that's hugely important for the development of our group, that we hear other voices and other ways of operating.

"It's not just around the senior team as well, you see it with our academy players and the work that they do visiting the clubs and the schools and giving freely of their time.

15 September 2025; Dan Sheehan, centre, and team-mates during a Leinster Rugby 12 county tour at Wicklow RFC in Wicklow. Photo by Shauna Clinton/Sportsfile
Leinster trained at Wicklow RFC on Monday

"I'm delighted to have them all on board again."

Former Leinster out-half Emmet Farrell has been appointed to a new role of provincial kicking coach, while Brian Colclough has taken over Farrell's former position as lead performance analyst for the club.

The new kicking role has been created to "better align the work at base in UCD with the clubs and the schools, and the player pathway", Leinster said.

Cullen's side begin the defence of their URC title with an away trip to South Africa.

They take on the Stormers on 26 September and Bulls on 4 October.

Watch New Zealand v Canada in the Women's Rugby World Cup semi-finals on Friday from 6.30pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player

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