Munster continue to secure backroom staff after reshuffle

Munster skills and assistant attack coach Mossy Lawler has followed in the footsteps of fellow coaches Denis Leamy and Mike Prendergast in signing a two-year contract extension with the province.

The coaching set-up at Thomond Park has seen plenty of change over the past two months, with head coach Graham Rowntree departing alongside forwards coach Andi Kyriacou just over a month ago.

Ian Costello has taken on Rowntree's role in the interim, with former Northampton Saints and Hurricanes boss Chris Boyd joining earlier this month as their new performance consultant. Boyd's arrival came shortly after Alex Codling joined as forwards coach consultant.

This latest deal ensures there will be some continuity in the Munster coaching staff after what has been a tumultuous start to the season.

A former Munster player between 2000 and 2008, Lawler returned to the province in 2023 after eight years with Connacht, and helped them top the United Rugby Championship table and reach the competition’s semi-final last season. Prior to rejoining Munster, he served as attack and skills coach for Connacht’s senior men’s team, as well as elite player development officer for their academy and head coach of Connacht Eagles, their second-tier side.

Munster currently sit in 11th place in the URC with only three wins from their opening seven matches, but have made a promising start to their Investec Champions Cup campaign, sitting in third place of Pool 3 after two rounds.

The 2023 URC champions have all-Irish derbies over the coming weeks, with a trip to Ulster coming this weekend before hosting a formidable Leinster outfit.