Latest news with #PeteWilkins
BreakingNews.ie
3 days ago
- General
- BreakingNews.ie
Stuart Lancaster appointed head coach of Connacht
Stuart Lancaster has been announced as the new head coach of Connacht. Lancaster takes over from Pete Wilkins, who left the province in April, and will take over from the start of next season, having signed a two-year contract. Advertisement Lancaster most recently served as Head Coach of Racing 92 in France, and before then enjoyed a hugely successful seven-year spell as Senior Coach of Leinster. He helped lead Leinster to four consecutive PRO14 titles and four Champions Cup finals, including victory in the 2018 decider. As Head Coach, Lancaster will also have responsibility for defence, thereby completing next season's coaching team. Joining him will be new attack coach Rod Seib, scrum & contact coach Cullie Tucker, and lineout & maul coach John Muldoon. Commenting on today's announcement, Stuart Lancaster says: 'I'm hugely excited to be joining Connacht Rugby and begin this new chapter of my life in the West of Ireland with my wife Nina. Connacht is a club with a proud identity, a passionate supporter base, and enormous potential both on and off the field, so I'm honoured and humbled to be given the opportunity to lead the Professional Men's team programme. Advertisement "I'm a firm believer in creating an environment that enables players to thrive and realise their potential, while playing a brand of rugby that inspires the community of which they represent. "Ever since my initial conversations with Willie, David and the rest of the selection committee, it's clear that same belief exists here in Connacht, and that's why I'm so excited by this opportunity. "There's also the fantastic new facilities here at the new High-Performance Centre and Dexcom Stadium, which will further enable us to realise those goals. "I'm looking forward to working closely with all of the staff and players, and I can't wait to get to know the supporters and wider community over the coming weeks and months.'
Irish Times
3 days ago
- General
- Irish Times
Stuart Lancaster announced as new Connacht head coach
Connacht Rugby has confirmed Staurt Lancaster as the province's new head coach. Lancaster has signed a two-year deal with the western province and arrives in Connacht following a seven-year stint as senior coach with Leinster before becoming head coach of French side Racing 92. Before his time with Leinster, Lancaster was England head coach for four Six Nations campaigns and their home Rugby World Cup in 2015. Lancaster's appointment comes after Pete Wilkins stepped down as Connacht head coach in April. READ MORE Lancaster will also take charge of Connacht's defence, with Rod Seib (attack), Cullie Tucker (scrum & contact) and John Muldoon (lineout & maul) rounding out the province's coaching ticket. 'I'm hugely excited to be joining Connacht Rugby and begin this new chapter of my life in the West of Ireland with my wife Nina,' Lancaster said in a statement released by the province on Tuesday morning. 'Connacht is a club with a proud identity, a passionate supporter base, and enormous potential both on and off the field, so I'm honoured and humbled to be given the opportunity to lead the Professional Men's team programme. 'I'm a firm believer in creating an environment that enables players to thrive and realise their potential, while playing a brand of rugby that inspires the community of which they represent. 'Ever since my initial conversations with Willie (Ruane, Connacht Rugby CEO), David (Humphreys, IRFU performance director) and the rest of the selection committee, it's clear that same belief exists here in Connacht, and that's why I'm so excited by this opportunity.' He added: 'I'm looking forward to working closely with all of the staff and players, and I can't wait to get to know the supporters and wider community over the coming weeks and months.'
The Independent
3 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
Stuart Lancaster returns to Ireland as former England coach's new job revealed
Connacht have appointed Stuart Lancaster as their new head coach as the former England head coach returns to Ireland after his Racing 92 sacking. Lancaster, who oversaw England from 2012 through to the home Rugby World Cup group-stage exit in 2015, parted ways with the French capital club earlier this year after a difficult season-and-a-half in Paris. The 55-year-old has since been linked with a number of jobs, including Leicester Tigers and Australia, but has now taken up a role in Galway as the permanent successor to Pete Wilkins. Lancaster is highly familiar with the Irish rugby structure after spending seven successful seasons at Leinster rugby, a period in which the Dublin club won the Champions Cup and four Pro 14 titles. 'I'm hugely excited to be joining Connacht Rugby and begin this new chapter of my life in the West of Ireland with my wife Nina,' Lancaster, who has signed a two-year deal, said. 'Connacht is a club with a proud identity, a passionate supporter base, and enormous potential both on and off the field, so I'm honoured and humbled to be given the opportunity to lead the professional men's team programme. 'I'm a firm believer in creating an environment that enables players to thrive and realise their potential, while playing a brand of rugby that inspires the community of which they represent. Ever since my initial conversations with Willie, David and the rest of the selection committee, it's clear that same belief exists here in Connacht, and that's why I'm so excited by this opportunity. I'm looking forward to working closely with all of the staff and players, and I can't wait to get to know the supporters and wider community over the coming weeks and months.' A tough tenure in the Top 14 saw Lancaster reportedly clash with Racing's hierarchy and struggle to get the best out of a star-studded squad. He remains highly-rated in coaching circles for his stint at Leinster and the work in developing a generation of England talent, even if his tenure with the national team ended in tournament disaster in 2015. Lancaster's staff in Galway will include John Muldoon, Connacht's record appearance-maker, and attack coach Rod Seib, who has joined from the Brumbies in Australia. Wilkins stepped down after the Challenge Cup exit in April and has since been appointed attack coach with fellow United Rugby Championship club Benetton in Treviso.
BBC News
3 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Ex-England boss Lancaster named Connacht head coach
Connacht have appointed former England boss Stuart Lancaster as their new head coach on a two-year deal. Lancaster, who has been out of work since leaving Racing 92 earlier this year, will replace Pete Wilkins, who stepped down after Connacht's Challenge Cup exit in April. Having spent four years as England head coach before leaving following a disastrous 2015 Rugby World Cup campaign, Lancaster was appointed Leinster senior coach in 2016 and helped lead the side to four consecutive league titles and Champions Cup success in 2018. Lancaster says he is "hugely excited" to the latest chapter of his career. "Connacht is a club with a proud identity, a passionate supporter base, and enormous potential both on and off the field, so I'm honoured and humbled to be given the opportunity to lead the professional men's team programme," said the 55-year-old. "I'm a firm believer in creating an environment that enables players to thrive and realise their potential, while playing a brand of rugby that inspires the community of which they represent. "Ever since my initial conversations with Willie [Ruane, Connacht chief executive], David [Humphreys, IRFU performance director] and the rest of the selection committee, it's clear that same belief exists here in Connacht, and that's why I'm so excited by this opportunity." More to follow.
The 42
15-05-2025
- Sport
- The 42
Connacht confirm departure of defence coach Scott Fardy
CONNACHT HAVE CONFIRMED that defence coach Scott Fardy will leave the province at the end of the season. Fardy's departure was widely expected after a season in which Connacht's defence has proven a major weakness, with the westerners missing out on a URC play-off berth and Champions Cup rugby for 2025/26. Advertisement Connacht, who are also currently seeking to hire a head coach to replace Pete Wilkins, said in a statement that 'the club will provide a further update on next season's coaching team over the coming weeks'. Former Leinster and Wallabies forward Fardy joined Connacht in 2023 having previously coached with the Green Rockets in Japan and back in Australia with his former Shute Shield club, Warringah. After a difficult two campaigns, Fardy will become the third Connacht coach to depart this year, with former boss Pete Wilkins — now Benetton-bound — departing the province last month and attack coach Mark Sexton switching to Ulster. 'Everyone at Connacht would like to thank him for all his contributions in his two years with us', said the Connacht statement on Fardy, 'and we wish him and his family every happiness in the future.' Connacht have already confirmed the appointment of Australian Rob Seib as senior assistant coach for next season, while fellow Aussie Billy Millard will join from Harlequins in the newly formed role of general manager. It's understood that Seib will focus on attack, while Connacht must now also appoint a successor to Fardy to steer their defence having initially hoped that Wilkins would fulfil that role in a reshuffle of the province's coaching duties.
