Just 18 months after leading Irish province Munster to their first Vodacom United Rugby Championship final, Graham Rowntree has left the club “by mutual agreement”.
Rowntree, who was brought in by previous Munster coach Johann van Graan as a forwards coach, took over when Van Graan left ahead of the 2022/3 season.
Before that the former England prop was a forwards coach for Harlequins and Georgia, as well as England and the British and Irish Lions.
In his first season he led Munster to their first title in 12 years as they headed to Cape Town to beat the DHL Stormers in an epic final.
Last season Munster finished top of the URC log, but lost in the semifinal to Glasgow Warriors, who went on to win the title.
Munster Rugby and the IRFU today confirm the departure of Graham Rowntree as Head Coach by mutual agreement.
— Munster Rugby (@Munsterrugby) October 29, 2024
We thank Graham for his passion & dedication to Munster Rugby over the past 5 years & wish him and his family the very best for the future.
Full statement ⤵️#SUAF 🔴
This season Munster have had a poor start, losing to Zebre in a shock loss and then both games in South Africa.
But still, this departure wasn’t expected especially as Munster had a similarly poor start to last season and ended up finishing top of the log.
And it wasn’t expected ahead of the side’s tour match against and All Blacks XV this weekend.
Munster Rugby CEO, Ian Flanagan, said: “We would like to thank Graham for his passion and dedication to Munster Rugby over the past five years, and I would like to wish him and his family the very best for the future on behalf of Munster Rugby.”
The change to the senior men’s coaching team is with immediate effect, with Head of Rugby Operations Ian Costello taking over as Interim Head Coach.
The recruitment process for a permanent Head Coach will get under way immediately.
Flanagan continued: “With the All Blacks XV coming to a sold-out Thomond Park this weekend and a number of big games on the horizon in November and December, our focus will be on continuing to support the coaches and the players for the season ahead.”
Graham Rowntree said: “I have thoroughly enjoyed my time here in Munster working with a very talented group of players and coaches.
“I would like to thank the wider Munster family for all the support they have shown me in my time here but now is the right stage for my family and I to look forward to a new chapter.”
Names already being mentioned for the role include La Rochelle boss Ronan O’Gara and former Springboks assistant coach Felix Jones.
Jones, who was part of Steve Borthwick’s management team, but left earlier this year, is being held to a 12-month notice period by the RFU and they are likely to ask for a compensation fee if he is approached by Munster.