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Declan Kidney's tenure as Ireland head coach has come to an end.
The IRFU announced this afternoon that it would not be renewing his contract - Les Kiss will take charge of the summer tour to North America.
Kidney's contract was due to expire on 30 June but the IRFU issued a statement this afternoon saying that his role as head coach ceases today.
"We would like to sincerely thank Declan for his commitment to Irish Rugby" - Philip Browne
IRFU chief executive Philip Browne said: "We would like to sincerely thank Declan for his commitment to Irish Rugby.
"His contribution and involvement across the spectrum of Irish rugby delivered Under Age, Provincial, Grand Slam and Triple Crown success, and epitomises his passion, belief and commitment to the game.
"With a host of new and emerging talent at every level, and despite the clear challenges ahead, we are confident of securing another world-class coach to work with this talented and ambitious group of players.”
The IRFU said the decision was made after a in-depth review carried out by the National Team Review Group.
The group will now begin the process of "identifying suitable candidates" for the job.
The former Munster coach was appointed to the job in May 2008 and in his first full year in charge led Ireland to their first Grand Slam since 1948.
However, since that historic campaign Ireland failed to make an impact on the big stage.
The injury-ravaged side finished in fifth place in this year's Six Nations championship, recording just a solitary win, against eventual champions Wales, and a draw with France, putting the 53-year-old's position under scrutiny.
Ireland play the USA on 8 June and Canada a week later.
Former assistant coach Kiss will take charge as interim head coach and will be assisted by Gert Smal and Anthony Foley.
Bookies have installed Queensland Reds coach Ewen McKenzie as favourite to take the job.
Was only a matter of time
The IRFU announced this afternoon that it would not be renewing his contract - Les Kiss will take charge of the summer tour to North America.
Kidney's contract was due to expire on 30 June but the IRFU issued a statement this afternoon saying that his role as head coach ceases today.
"We would like to sincerely thank Declan for his commitment to Irish Rugby" - Philip Browne
IRFU chief executive Philip Browne said: "We would like to sincerely thank Declan for his commitment to Irish Rugby.
"His contribution and involvement across the spectrum of Irish rugby delivered Under Age, Provincial, Grand Slam and Triple Crown success, and epitomises his passion, belief and commitment to the game.
"With a host of new and emerging talent at every level, and despite the clear challenges ahead, we are confident of securing another world-class coach to work with this talented and ambitious group of players.”
The IRFU said the decision was made after a in-depth review carried out by the National Team Review Group.
The group will now begin the process of "identifying suitable candidates" for the job.
The former Munster coach was appointed to the job in May 2008 and in his first full year in charge led Ireland to their first Grand Slam since 1948.
However, since that historic campaign Ireland failed to make an impact on the big stage.
The injury-ravaged side finished in fifth place in this year's Six Nations championship, recording just a solitary win, against eventual champions Wales, and a draw with France, putting the 53-year-old's position under scrutiny.
Ireland play the USA on 8 June and Canada a week later.
Former assistant coach Kiss will take charge as interim head coach and will be assisted by Gert Smal and Anthony Foley.
Bookies have installed Queensland Reds coach Ewen McKenzie as favourite to take the job.
Was only a matter of time
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Would love him back at Munster fwiw myself b4 the ship completely sinks 
A raid on Quinns would be nice but maybe an appointment to early as O'Shea still has things to complete there in my book.
Humphrey's from Ulster? A wild card pick for sure from the leinstermunstercentric selection comittee
I jus hope Ireland sit back, take there time & most importantly look overseas to break up this leinster/Munster process, it really needs a change, but we shall see.
But as for Mr Kidney, all I can (and will) say is a Thank you for finally realising the Grand Slam which had so eluded us in recent years, world cups performances thou are a diffo matter......
Humphrey's from Ulster? A wild card pick for sure from the leinstermunstercentric selection comittee
I jus hope Ireland sit back, take there time & most importantly look overseas to break up this leinster/Munster process, it really needs a change, but we shall see.
But as for Mr Kidney, all I can (and will) say is a Thank you for finally realising the Grand Slam which had so eluded us in recent years, world cups performances thou are a diffo matter......
Please nobody Irish! Fresh blood needed with no natural bias. Foley is my worst fear.......
Interesting to see who pops up among the potentials for the job .
No hard and fast views myself , just reckoned Declan had run out of options and ideas , dont think he can complain .
No hard and fast views myself , just reckoned Declan had run out of options and ideas , dont think he can complain .
Ewen McKenzie says he has had no contact with the IRFU but admits coaching Ireland is "the type of job I'm interested in".
The decision by the IRFU not to extend Declan Kidney's contract saw McKenzie installed by bookmakers as the odds-on favourite to become the next head coach.
Former Kangaroo winger and long-term Ireland defence coach Les Kiss assumed the interim coach role but in the wake of McKenzie's recent decision to leave Queensland and pursue a Test job, speculation has strongly linked the Australian to the top job in Ireland.
McKenzie, who coached with Kiss at the Waratahs said there had been no contact made from Ireland, but he also gave strong indications his phone is on and fully charged.
"I have had no discussions with Ireland, I haven't heard anything from them. They haven't contacted me and I haven't contacted them," McKenzie told the Sydney-based Daily Telegraph yesterday. "I have heard nothing in that space, I've only read things in the media.
"I have said I am looking for coaching challenges at the next level, and I am looking for whatever the possibilities are. It's the type of job I am interested in looking at, but there have been no discussions."
"I have had no discussions with Ireland, I haven't heard anything from them. They haven't contacted me" - Ewen McKenzie
McKenzie announced he would part ways with the Reds in August, and will put his hat in the ring for the Wallabies job in 2014.
But with that job not likely to be advertised until as late as November, any overseas offer would require an earlier call - and McKenzie to potentially relinquish his Wallabies dream.
McKenzie said while coaching at Test level is his aim, he also indicated he'd consider carefully the "whole environment" of any potential coaching assignment.
"It can depend on what is being offered; like do you start from scratch or do you go in and inherit what's already in place?," McKenzie said.
Paddy Power has McKenzie (1/2) ahead of Kiss, Kiwis Joe Schmidt and Vern Cotter, former Wales coach Mike Ruddock, Jake White and Conor O'Shea.
White ruled himself out yesterday on Twitter, telling a punter "save your cash pal."
The decision by the IRFU not to extend Declan Kidney's contract saw McKenzie installed by bookmakers as the odds-on favourite to become the next head coach.
Former Kangaroo winger and long-term Ireland defence coach Les Kiss assumed the interim coach role but in the wake of McKenzie's recent decision to leave Queensland and pursue a Test job, speculation has strongly linked the Australian to the top job in Ireland.
McKenzie, who coached with Kiss at the Waratahs said there had been no contact made from Ireland, but he also gave strong indications his phone is on and fully charged.
"I have had no discussions with Ireland, I haven't heard anything from them. They haven't contacted me and I haven't contacted them," McKenzie told the Sydney-based Daily Telegraph yesterday. "I have heard nothing in that space, I've only read things in the media.
"I have said I am looking for coaching challenges at the next level, and I am looking for whatever the possibilities are. It's the type of job I am interested in looking at, but there have been no discussions."
"I have had no discussions with Ireland, I haven't heard anything from them. They haven't contacted me" - Ewen McKenzie
McKenzie announced he would part ways with the Reds in August, and will put his hat in the ring for the Wallabies job in 2014.
But with that job not likely to be advertised until as late as November, any overseas offer would require an earlier call - and McKenzie to potentially relinquish his Wallabies dream.
McKenzie said while coaching at Test level is his aim, he also indicated he'd consider carefully the "whole environment" of any potential coaching assignment.
"It can depend on what is being offered; like do you start from scratch or do you go in and inherit what's already in place?," McKenzie said.
Paddy Power has McKenzie (1/2) ahead of Kiss, Kiwis Joe Schmidt and Vern Cotter, former Wales coach Mike Ruddock, Jake White and Conor O'Shea.
White ruled himself out yesterday on Twitter, telling a punter "save your cash pal."
Very exciting news.
Ireland should be very good to watch going forward...looking forward to seeing the likes of Zebo, Jared Payne, Bowe, and the two Marshalls benefit from the new fresh approach. Lets hope our forwards can deliver the type of ball required.
Ireland should be very good to watch going forward...looking forward to seeing the likes of Zebo, Jared Payne, Bowe, and the two Marshalls benefit from the new fresh approach. Lets hope our forwards can deliver the type of ball required.
There wasn't really a decision to be made once he threw his hat in the ring, was there? He took Clermont to a different level when he was in France and has now done the same with Leinster. Hopefully the amount of time that POC has spent on the sidelines will see him stay resher for longer because the worry, as you rightly point out, is whether the tight five is up to standard. I don't think we'll be seeing too many more fiascos like what happened in Edinburgh this year under his stewardship. When Ireland do get on top from now on, I expect them to make it tell. His track record of turning dominance on the pitch into points on the board is very impressive.
Very timely I think. With O'Driscoll and D'Arcy getting old something has to change in ireland's approach, maybe an offload at some point in a game, and they've appointed a man who could easily claim to be one of the very best coaches around, if not the best outright. We've seen the golden generation promise a lot and deliver only a little, but with Schmidt in charge it could definitely be a case of the second wave having fewer exceptional talents, but more cohesion and overall depth of quality. Should be good to watch as well, Schmidt certainly doesn't appear to believe in 10 man rugby. I think Irish rugby fans are going to be very happy about this appointment, if not now then they will soon enough.
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