Munster Rugby coach Denis Leamy insists province wants to be judged by 'highest standards'

MUNSTER Rugby's defence coach and former Irish international Denis Leamy has been reflecting on the recently-finished season which ended with the province winning its first silverware in 12 years

After retiring from a series of injuries in 2012, Leamy never imagined finishing his career at 30-years-old while being heavily involved with both Ireland and Munster squads.

At such a young age and just out of a hip replacement, Leamy turned to Micheal Prendergast and began coaching with Young Munster which sparked his coaching career.

Leamy’s big break in coaching came when he was asked to join the Leinster Academy in 2019 before moving back to his old faithful Munster as Defence coach in 2022. 

Looking back on Munster Rugby's topsy-turvy season, the defence coach told Off the Ball on Newstalk that the new coaching style was all put down to Graham Rowntree and him asking the players to do stuff that was completely different to what they were used to.  

“We asked so much of the boys, we trained them extremely hard and we got through those first six months of the season with huge trust and belief from both the players and the coaches," he said. 

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During those first six months a lot of people were asking serious questions about the vision and trajectory of the province as they struggled to get wins. 

Leamy said: “Munster are judged by the highest standards and we always want to be judged by these standards, that’s what Munster is. But that’s what happens when you're losing you’re going to get a fair old whacking.”

Criticism is always part of it but the Tipperary man is convinced that trust within the squad is what gets them through. 

The huge win in South Africa (URC Grand Final) was marked by Leamy as a one-off game where the boys could go out and enjoy the atmosphere of a final. 

Denis believes the win in Cape Town showed the younger players the possibilities that can be achieved in a Munster Jersey and gives players a hunger to want more silverware. 

“It’s important to have the history and heritage within Munster and there is a greater thing happening outside of the club as well.”