BREAKING: Munster Rugby confirm departure from coaching team

MUNSTER Rugby has confirmed that forwards coach Andi Kyriacou has announced his decision to leave the province to rejoin his family in England.

This is the second high profile departure from the Munster Rugby coaching set up in the past month as the province confirmed the departure of head coach Graham Rowntree as Head Coach at the end of October.

After joining the club in 2019, Rowntree spent three years as Forwards Coach before being appointed Head Coach ahead of the 2022/23 season.

Andi Kyriacou, who played for Munster during the 2006/07 season, joined Munster as an Elite Player Development Officer with the Academy in April 2021.

He was promoted to forwards coach ahead of the 2022/23 season where he was an integral part of the coaching group that led Munster to the URC title that year and topped the URC table last season.

Andi Kyriacou said: “I would like to thank the players, management, and fans for the warm welcome throughout both my times at Munster.

“However, I have lived apart from my young family for several years now and we felt it timely to continue our rugby journey back in the UK.

“It has not been an easy decision as Munster is a club very close to my heart and, above all, it’s been a pleasure to be able to coach a group of such impressive young players and men.

“I’m particularly proud of winning the URC in the 22/23 season, topping the league last year and for all the young players I have helped develop. I wish Munster every success in the future.”

Munster Rugby CEO, Ian Flanagan, said: “We would like to thank Andi for all his hard work over the last number of years in both his role as an Elite Player Development Officer and as Forwards Coach for the senior men’s team.

“I would like to wish Andi and his family the very best for the future on behalf of Munster Rugby.”

The recruitment process for a new Forwards Coach has begun.