DAVID NUCIFORA SAYS the IRFU are willing to offer Leo Cullen and Leinster help if the province believes it is necessary.
Cullen guided Leinster into the Guinness Pro12 final in his first season as head coach but saw his side well beaten by Connacht last weekend, while the eastern province exited the Champions Cup at the pool stages having lost five of their six games.
Cullen’s has just completed his first season in charge of Leinster. Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO
Nucifora yesterday indicated that he believes Cullen has an important role to play moving forward but stressed that the IRFU would be willing to provide aid if Leinster looked to bring a more experienced figure into their set-up.
Munster responded to a poor season under Anthony Foley by hiring Rassie Erasmus as their director of rugby – Foley remains on as part of the staff – with that move to secure the South African facilitated by Nucifora and the IRFU.
With Pat Lam impressing at Connacht, Les Kiss in control of Ulster and now Erasmus leading Munster, Leinster are the only province without an experienced figure in charge.
The42 understands that Nucifora actually held up Leinster’s appointment of Cullen last summer due to concerns about his inexperience, but with the province struggling to secure a more suitable candidate an agreement was eventually reached.
“I’ve said before that coaching is paramount,” said Nucifora yesterday. “To get our coaching right to maximise the talent we have at our disposal in the playing ranks is huge.
“We’ve worked with all the provinces to put all the structures in place and we’ve got three very experienced coaches in Munster, Ulster, and Connacht.
“Leo looks like he stands out because of his inexperience but we’ve worked with Leinster in putting Leo into the position, he’s there now and we think he’s going to be a really valuable resource to Irish rugby as a coach for years to come.
Nucifora took up his IRFU role in 2014. Source: Dan Sheridan/INPHO
“If Leo requires any assistance over time he knows he’s only got to ask and we’ll be there to help and give him that assistance.
“He’s doing a good job. It’s not easy coming into a head coaching position with such little experience because he is learning on the go and that can be tricky at times. He is developing and is going to develop into a really important asset for Irish rugby as a coach.
“Does he need help along the way? Possibly, but that’s up to Leinster and Leo to ask for that if they think that’s required.”