Italy to move on from coach Kieran Crowley after World Cup
Kieran Crowley will leave his role as Italy head coach after the World Cup later this year, despite the New Zealand coach's wish to extend his contract.
Former All Blacks fullback Crowley, who previously coached Canada at the 2015 World Cup, was appointed Italy coach in 2021 and guided the Six Nations minnows to a famous win in Wales to end a 36-game losing streak in the competition.
He then oversaw Italy's historic first victory over Australia in November last year. Crowley has a record of six wins and 13 defeats with Italy.
"Kieran's time with Italian rugby is very positive. He has raised a group of boys, making them into men and players of high international level, and for this we will be eternally grateful to him," the Italian federation (FIR) president Marzio Innocenti said while announcing Crowley's departure.
But Crowley said he would have liked to be involved with the Italy team for the next World Cup cycle as well.
"I regret FIR's decision not to extend my contract. We have a young team that has gained good experience over the past year, with performances that have shown improvement in many areas," he said.
"With a World Cup and four more years of international matches, we will have a group with an average of 50 to 60 caps, an exciting prospect. Unfortunately, I will not be part of this journey.
"I will be 100 per cent committed along with our staff to prepare this group of players (for the World Cup) in the best way possible."
The World Cup kicks off on September 8. Italy are in Pool A along with New Zealand, hosts France, Uruguay and Namibia.
Latest Comments
> It would be best described as an elegant solution to what was potentially going to be a significant problem for new All Blacks coach Scott Robertson. It is a problem the mad population of New Zealand will have to cope with more and more as All Blacks are able to continue their careers in NZ post RWCs. It will not be a problem for coaches, who are always going to start a campaign with the captain for the next WC in mind. > Cane, despite his warrior spirit, his undoubted commitment to every team he played for and unforgettable heroics against Ireland in last year’s World Cup quarter-final, was never unanimously admired or respected within New Zealand while he was in the role. Neither was McCaw, he was considered far too passive a captain and then out of form until his last world cup where everyone opinions changed, just like they would have if Cane had won the WC. > It was never easy to see where Cane, or even if, he would fit into Robertson’s squad given the new coach will want to be building a new-look team with 2027 in mind. > Cane will win his selections on merit and come the end of the year, he’ll sign off, he hopes, with 100 caps and maybe even, at last, universal public appreciation for what was a special career. No, he won’t. Those returning from Japan have already earned the right to retain their jersey, it’s in their contract. Cane would have been playing against England if he was ready, and found it very hard to keep his place. Perform, and they keep it however. Very easy to see where Cane could have fit, very hard to see how he could have accomplished it choosing this year as his sabbatical instead of 2025, and that’s how it played out (though I assume we now know what when NZR said they were allowing him to move his sabbatical forward and return to NZ next year, they had actually agreed to simply select him for the All Blacks from overseas, without any chance he was going to play in NZ again). With a mammoth season of 15 All Black games they might as well get some value out of his years contract, though even with him being of equal character to Richie, I don’t think they should guarantee him his 100 caps. That’s not what the All Blacks should be about. He absolutely has to play winning football.
Go to commentswhat’s happening to Ian Peel?
Go to comments