Mike Prendergast, Denis Leamy, and Cullie Tucker are joining the Irish coaching staff for the summer tour to Georgia and Portugal. They’re filling in while some main coaches, like Simon Easterby, Andrew Goodman, and John Fogarty, are with the British and Irish Lions in Australia. Paul O’Connell will also step in as head coach while Andy Farrell is with the Lions. O’Connell Joins Ireland Coaching Team.
New Coaching Additions Bring Experience
The choices of Prendergast and Tucker make sense. Prendergast, who coaches Munster’s attack, led Ireland A in a match against England A back in February. Meanwhile, Tucker, Connacht’s scrum coach, helped manage the set pieces for that game, making him a good fit for the senior team.
Sean O’Brien from Leinster was expected to be part of the tour as the A side’s defence coach. However, Denis Leamy from Munster will take over Easterby’s usual role instead. O’Connell Joins Ireland Coaching Team.
Tour Schedule and Match Details
The IRFU has confirmed the dates and locations for Ireland’s matches. Paul O’Connell will announce his squad in mid-June before they play two games:
– Georgia vs. Ireland – Saturday, July 5, at Mikheil Meskhi Stadium in Tbilisi. Kick-off is at 6 PM Irish time (9 PM local).
– Portugal vs. Ireland – Saturday, July 12, at Estadio Nacional do Jamor in Lisbon. This stadium is known for hosting Celtic’s famous win in the 1967 European Cup against Inter Milan.
O’Connell Excited for the Challenge
O’Connell shared his excitement about taking on the interim head coach role:
“I’m honored to step in as head coach for the summer tour to Georgia and Portugal. It’s going to be an important series of matches against some unfamiliar opponents in tough conditions.”
O’Connell noted that with a busy schedule ahead, these matches will help assess the squad and increase competition for spots. He’s looking forward to working with a coaching team he knows well and is eager to get started.
Where to Watch the Action
For rugby fans looking to catch more games, the Champions Cup will feature:
– Leinster vs. Harlequins – Live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player, Saturday at 2:15 PM.
– La Rochelle vs. Munster – Live commentary on RTÉ Radio 1 (kick-off at 5:30 PM) with updates from Leinster vs. Harlequins at 3 PM.
Stay updated with all the latest at rte.ie/sport and on the RTÉ News app.
