mary hinge wrote: I see Pat's named a 37 man squad for the pre-season tour to Castres, Wasps, and Newcastle. Excellent to see young fellas like Kindregan, Layden, Walsh, and Finn get the chance to tour alongside vets like George and Nathan White.

Absolutely, money well spent and good to see some future planning already in the Lam era...

I see Pat's named a 37 man squad for the pre-season tour to Castres, Wasps, and Newcastle. Excellent to see young fellas like Kindregan, Layden, Walsh, and Finn get the chance to tour alongside vets like George and Nathan White.

I see from the Connacht twitter that Joe took the connacht training session today (assuming it was today). I think that's great to see - I've always been really impressed by him, in pretty much evey respect (with the exception of stealing Mike McCarthy ). If his appointment as Ireland coach can have a positive effect on Connacht that happy days.

rossie wrote: So that's schmidt , kiss and plumtree.

Sounds like a firm of solicitors...

John plumtree has been named forwards coach for Ireland. So that's schmidt , kiss and plumtree. Media reckon a kicking and scrum coach to follow and that's it.
Plumtree is a staffer and used to be head coach at sharks.

The logical choice, also glad that it is sorted. I hope that he brings the youth through. Leinster have been one of the top 2 or 3 teams in Europe for the last few years, really hope that it galvanises the team and that the national team plays with the same style and passion. Best of luck Joe......... In the Amlin as well as with Ireland !

The only real option for the job. He's coming in at a difficult time with the team in a bit of transition but after this year's 6 nations the only way is up. Glad this is sorted and we can blood some new talent on the summer tours rather than waste the tours like we did in 2005 and 2009.

Glad it's sorted. Schmidt wouldn't have signed without concessions from the IRFU on stuff as he could walk into practically any other job. Wish him all the best.

Delighted with this!

His message to BOD must be either you declare 2 more years for WC (hopefully) or you retire from International rugby (maybe stay with Leinster), none of this one more year stuff.

Three years apparently. Will include the 2015 World Cup and end at the 2016 6N.

swift4prez wrote: Michael Corcoran ‏@MichaelC_RTE

Joe Schmidt to be confirmed as @irfurugby Head Coach at 4pm today #rterugby #Leinsterrugby

Irish Rugby ‏@irfurugby

Delighted to announce that Joe Schmidt is the new Ireland Head Coach. Tune in to a live press conference at 4pm on www.IrishRugby.ie

Best option within Ireland, but as I've stated previously I'm not a fan of IRFU employees being promoted to the Top Job, too much cow-towing to the suits/bean-counters and not enough independent thinking and implementation.

If he does alright in 6N and gets us through to 1/4 at RWC the Kiwi's will look to take him onboard for their next RWC cycle and he'll probably go....

Will be interesting to see what duration of contract is announces..

Michael Corcoran ‏@MichaelC_RTE

Joe Schmidt to be confirmed as @irfurugby Head Coach at 4pm today #rterugby #Leinsterrugby

Irish Rugby ‏@irfurugby

Delighted to announce that Joe Schmidt is the new Ireland Head Coach. Tune in to a live press conference at 4pm on www.IrishRugby.ie

I think it was discussed at the time of Connacht's interviews but Eddie has almost zero professional club/provincial experience and what little he has is from so long ago that it doesn't matter. He got the international job being the right man in the right place and did pretty good all things considered, but when he was sacked he should have tried to build himself up again even if it is a bit shit going from international rugby to ail/champion/div2 or Italian super10, but if he had done that and proved his credentials he would have been in a real position to look for big jobs now. He has no business looking for jobs with clubs who expect to be in the heineken cup when he has no idea what that sort of full season set up is like.

Your preaching to the converted. Will be interesting to see how he does with a club as in has the game passed him by like Kidney or has he still something to add? The ELV's essentially ended Kidney's style of play and he never evolved enough into a new system. EOS could effectively find himself in the same boat.

Maybe as a hobby but as director of sport he would be depriving someone else a job.

I think it was discussed at the time of Connacht's interviews but Eddie has almost zero professional club/provincial experience and what little he has is from so long ago that it doesn't matter. He got the international job being the right man in the right place and did pretty good all things considered, but when he was sacked he should have tried to build himself up again even if it is a bit shit going from international rugby to ail/champion/div2 or italian super10, but if he had done that and proved his credentials he would have been in a real position to look for big jobs now. He has no business looking for jobs with clubs who expect to be in the heineken cup when he has no idea what that sort of full season set up is like. /ramble.