Declan Kidney

Last updated

Declan Kidney
Declan-Kidney-09-05-23.jpg
Birth nameDeclan Kidney
Date of birth (1959-10-20) 20 October 1959 (age 64)
Place of birth Bishopstown, Cork, Ireland
Rugby union career
Position(s) Director of Rugby
Current team London Irish
Amateur team(s)
YearsTeamApps(Points)
University College Cork ()
– Dolphin ()
Coaching career
YearsTeam
1998–2002 Munster (assistant coach)
2002–2004 Ireland (assistant coach)
2004 Newport Gwent Dragons (head coach)
2004–2005 Leinster (head coach)
2005–2008 Munster (head coach)
2008–2013 Ireland (head coach)
2013–2018 UCC (Director of Sport)
2018–2023 London Irish (Director of Rugby)
Correct as of 6 June 2023

Declan Kidney (born 20 October 1959) is an Irish rugby union coach. He was the head coach of the Ireland national rugby union team from 2008 to 2013, where he won the 2009 Six Nations with a Grand Slam, winning the 2009 IRB Coach of the Year award. [1] [2] He was also the head coach at Munster, leading them to four Heineken Cup finals, winning twice in 2006 and 2008. He was recently Director of Rugby at London Irish.

Contents

Early life

Kidney was born in Bishopstown, County Cork. He played rugby for UCC and later for Dolphin RFC. He studied to become an accounting and mathematics teacher, [3] in which position he was appointed at Presentation Brothers College, Cork, and later became the career guidance officer.

He took on the role of rugby coach at the school, where he had initial success as coach of the junior and later senior side. [4]

Coaching career

Youth and professional

Following his coaching of the Irish Schools team, Kidney coached the Ireland under 19s team which won the FIRA World Cup in 1998. [5]

After the 1998 Tournament he joined Munster. [6] His initial stint at Munster ended in 2002, when he left to become Ireland's assistant coach. He was replaced at Munster by Alan Gaffney.

In the summer of 2004, he became coach at Newport Gwent Dragons. However, in August 2004, after only 3 months in the job, he left to join Leinster. [7]

He rejoined Munster in 2005, winning the Heineken Cup in his first season back, after losing in both 2000 and 2002 in the final. [8] [9] After this win, Kidney was awarded the 2006 Philips Sports Manager of the Year award, [10] and on 24 May 2008, his Munster squad won the Heineken Cup once again. [11]

Ireland (2008–2013)

He coached the Irish team to the Grand Slam and Triple Crown in 2009, in his first year as head coach. [12] In June 2009, coached Ireland Wolfhounds, then known as Ireland A, to their first Churchill Cup. He was awarded the 2009 IRB Coach of the Year. [13] He was also awarded the 2009 Phillips Manager of the Year for the third time in four years, beating Brian Cody, John Oxx and Giovanni Trapattoni to the title. [14]

Ireland's international fortunes declined after 2009 with a poor string of results, which was the antithesis to the success of its provinces Leinster, Ulster, Connacht and Munster. In 2011 Kidney led Ireland to the quarter finals of the 2011 Rugby World Cup, at which Ireland recorded their first-ever clean sweep of their pool, including Ireland's first-ever win at a world cup against a major rugby nation (Australia). A series of poor game management decisions by senior players saw them defeated 22–10 by Wales. [15] Ireland suffered their heaviest defeat in history in 2012 going down by 60–0 against New Zealand, [16] and by 2013 had slipped to their worst IRB World Ranking of ninth when Ireland suffered a string of injuries to key players, the likes of which Ireland has not suffered previously nor suffered since. After finishing fifth in the 2013 Six Nations Championship, which included an historic loss to Italy, the IRFU, on 2 April 2013, decided to terminate Kidney's contract. [17] [18] [19] [20] Kidney finished with a record of 28 wins, 3 draws and 22 defeats. [21]

UCC

In August 2013, Kidney was appointed as the Director of Sport and Physical Activity at UCC. [22]

London Irish

Kidney joined London Irish in March 2018 as technical consultant. The roles reunited Kidney with Les Kiss who was appointed head coach on the same day. [23] He later became Director of Rugby on 22 May 2018 following the resignation of Nick Kennedy. [24]

Honours

Munster
Ireland
Individual
London Irish

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brian O'Driscoll</span> Irish rugby former player

Brian Gerard O'Driscoll is an Irish former professional rugby union player. He played at outside centre for the Irish provincial team Leinster and for Ireland. He captained Ireland from 2003 until 2012, and captained the British & Irish Lions for their 2005 tour of New Zealand. He is regarded by critics as one of the greatest rugby players of all time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ulster Rugby</span> Rugby union team in island of Ireland

Ulster Rugby is one of the four professional provincial rugby union teams from the island of Ireland. They compete in the Irish regional pool of the United Rugby Championship and in the European Rugby Champions Cup, each of which they have won once. Ulster were the first Irish team and the first team outside England and France to win the European Cup in 1999.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leinster Rugby</span> Rugby union team in Ireland

Leinster Rugby is one of the four professional provincial club rugby union teams from the island of Ireland. They compete in the United Rugby Championship and the European Rugby Champions Cup.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ronan O'Gara</span> Irish rugby union coach and former player

Ronan John Ross O'Gara is an Irish former rugby union player and current coach. O'Gara played as a fly-half and is Ireland's second most-capped player and second highest points scorer. He is currently head coach of La Rochelle in the French Top 14.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gordon D'Arcy</span> Irish rugby union player

Gordon William D'Arcy is a retired Irish rugby player who played most of his career at inside centre. He played for Irish provincial side Leinster for his entire professional career and is second on the record list for most Leinster appearances at 257, behind Devon Toner and is third on the all time Leinster try list with 60. He was registered to club side Lansdowne.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Felipe Contepomi</span> Argentine rugby coach

Felipe Contepomi is an Argentine professional rugby coach who is currently the backs coach at Leinster Rugby. He was a rugby union footballer who played fly-half or centre; his last club was Club Newman, in the first division of the URBA championship. He was also a key player for Argentina, having played 15 years for the national team. His twin brother Manuel was also a Puma. In June 2015 he was appointed coach of Argentina XV. Contepomi was inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame in November 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rugby union in Ireland</span> Third most popular form of football in Ireland, organised on an all-island basis

Rugby union is a popular team sport on the island of Ireland, organised on an all-Ireland basis, including players and teams from both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. Its governing body, the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU), was founded in 1879, making it the third oldest rugby union in the world after the RFU (England) and the SRU (Scotland).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stephen Ferris</span> Rugby player

Stephen Ferris is a retired Irish rugby union player who played for Ulster and represented Ireland internationally. Ferris played club rugby with Dungannon. He is from Maghaberry and attended Friends' School Lisburn. He played for Ulster and Ireland in all three backrow positions. Ferris retired for rugby in June 2014 after a long-standing ankle injury ended his career.

Denis Patrick Leamy is an Irish former rugby union player who is currently part of the coaching team with Munster. He was a back-row forward who could play either flanker or at number 8, and occasionally played at centre. He ended his club rugby career for Munster in the Pro12 and Heineken Cup, and internationally for Ireland. He officially announced his retirement in May 2012 due to a long-standing hip injury.

Alan Quinlan is a retired Irish rugby union player. He played for Munster and was registered to All-Ireland League side Shannon. He retired from rugby in May 2011.

Anthony Horgan is a former Irish rugby union player, who played for Cork Constitution, Munster and Ireland. He played the majority of his rugby as a Winger.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jamie Heaslip</span> Irish and Lions Rugby Union player (born 1983)

James Heislip is an Irish former rugby union player who represented Leinster, Ireland and the British & Irish Lions. He played as a number 8. Heislip earned 95 caps for Ireland during his international career from 2006 to 2017, making him one of the most capped players in Irish national team history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cian Healy</span> Irish rugby union player

Cian Eoin James Healy is an Irish professional rugby union player who plays as a prop for United Rugby Championship club Leinster and the Ireland national team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Johnny Sexton</span> Irish rugby union player

Jonathan Jeremiah Sexton is an Irish former professional rugby union player who played as a fly-half and captained the Ireland national team from 2019 until 2023. He also played club rugby for Leinster and Racing 92.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seán O'Brien (rugby union, born 1987)</span> Rugby player

Seán Kevin O'Brien is an Irish retired professional rugby union player. He previously represented home province Leinster for eleven seasons. At Leinster, he helped the team win four European titles, and was named ERC European Player of the Year for the 2010–11 season, he then played three season's for English Premiership Rugby side London Irish.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mike Ross (rugby union)</span> Irish rugby union player

Mike Ross is a retired Irish rugby union footballer who played prop for Irish club Leinster and the Ireland national rugby team.

Andrew Joseph Conway is a former Irish rugby union player who played as a wing or fullback for United Rugby Championship club Munster.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peter O'Mahony</span> Irish rugby union player

Peter James O'Mahony is an Irish rugby union player who plays as a flanker for United Rugby Championship club Munster and the Ireland national team.

The 1999–2000 Munster Rugby season was Munster's fifth season as a professional team, during which they competed in the IRFU Interprovincial Championship and Heineken Cup. It was Declan Kidney's second season in his first spell as head coach of the province.

Niall O'Donovan is an Irish rugby union coach who is currently manager of Munster, having previously coached Shannon, Ireland A and Ireland.

References

  1. ↑ "Declan Kidney Confirmed As New Ireland Coach". Irish Rugby. 7 May 2008. Archived from the original on 10 May 2008. Retrieved 7 May 2008.
  2. ↑ "Ireland appoint Kidney as coach". BBC Sport. 7 May 2008. Retrieved 7 May 2008.
  3. ↑ "Ireland's coach in waiting". This is London. 8 April 2008. Archived from the original on 5 May 2013. Retrieved 7 May 2008.
  4. ↑ "The Return of the Prodigal Son". redgrouper.com. October 2005. Archived from the original on 30 May 2008. Retrieved 7 May 2008.
  5. ↑ New role for Kidney BBC Sport, 16 February 2004
  6. ↑ Munster: Heineken Cup Factfile Archived 29 May 2008 at the Wayback Machine Irish Rugby, 4 April 2008
  7. ↑ Leinster land Kidney BBC Sport, 26 May 2004
  8. ↑ Kidney knows it's getting tougher in Heineken Cup Archived 29 May 2008 at the Wayback Machine RTÉ Sport, 30 October 2001
  9. ↑ Munster 23–19 Biarritz BBC Sport, 20 May 2006
  10. ↑ Kidney Confirmed as Manager of the year Archived 29 May 2008 at the Wayback Machine Irish Rugby, 8 December 2006
  11. ↑ "2008 Heineken Cup final". BBC Sport. 24 May 2008. Retrieved 23 March 2009.
  12. ↑ "2009 Six Nations". BBC Sport. 22 March 2009. Retrieved 22 March 2009.
  13. ↑ "IRB awards for McCaw, South Africa & Kidney". BBC Sport. 28 November 2009. Retrieved 30 November 2009.
  14. ↑ Kidney named Phillips Manager of the Year Archived 13 December 2009 at the Wayback Machine , RTÉ Sport, 9 December 2009
  15. ↑ "Major opportunity lost as superb Welsh slam door shut". Irish Independent. 10 October 2011. Archived from the original on 5 September 2012. Retrieved 10 October 2011.
  16. ↑ 2012 Ireland rugby union tour of New Zealand
  17. ↑ "IRFU Announce Decision Not To Offer Declan Kidney New Contract". irishrugby.ie. 2 April 2013. Archived from the original on 5 April 2013. Retrieved 2 April 2013.
  18. ↑ "Declan Kidney sacked as Ireland coach". Irish Independent. 2 April 2013. Retrieved 4 April 2013.
  19. ↑ "Ewen McKenzie favourite to replace Ireland coach Declan Kidney". The Daily Telegraph. London. 2 April 2013. Retrieved 4 April 2013.
  20. ↑ "Declan Kidney sacked as Ireland rugby union coach". BBC Sport. 2 April 2013. Retrieved 4 April 2013.
  21. ↑ "Fixtures & Results". Irish Rugby. Retrieved 8 February 2021.
  22. ↑ "Declan Kidney appointed Director of Sport at UCC". Irish Independent. 22 August 2013. Retrieved 22 August 2013.
  23. ↑ "London Irish: Coaches Declan Kidney and Les Kiss join Premiership's bottom club". BBC Sport. 9 March 2018. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
  24. ↑ "Declan Kidney confirmed as director of rugby at London Irish | 22nd May 2018 | News". London Irish. 22 May 2018. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
Awards
Preceded by IRB International Coach of the Year
2009		Succeeded by
Preceded by London Irish coach
2018-		Succeeded by
incumbent
Preceded by Ireland rugby coach
2008–13		Succeeded by
Preceded by Munster Rugby coach
2005–08		Succeeded by
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.