The Blues had been in the news for signing RG Snyman but now have to go to work to find a new attack guru for next season
Andrew Goodman is leaving Leinster for Ireland at the end of the season.
Backs coach Goodman, 41, will replace Mike Catt in the role as part of Andy Farrell’s Test management set-up and is expected to travel to South Africa for Ireland’s two Test series in June. It was known that Catt is leaving his role next summer.
The New Zealander has committed to the national team till the end of the Australia-hosted Rugby World Cup in 2027.
This week, Leinster made headlines when they signed RG Snyman from rival Munster. But the Blues have been dealt a blow by this most recent development.
In the summer of last year, Goodman took over Felipe Contepomi’s position at the province. When Stuart Lancaster left Racing 92 at the end of the previous season, Goodman assumed responsibility for leading Leinster’s offense.
In addition, he supported Samoa as an assistant coach at France 2023.
Now Leo Cullen will have to find a replacement for the highly-regarded Kiwi, who previously worked in the NPC with Tasman Mako and then with the Crusaders whom he helped lift the Super Rugby title in 2022.
Goodman played for a while with Leinster, when he won the Challenge Cup and the Celtic League. He so acknowledges that it was “very difficult to make in one way” to make the decision.
He continued: “I have loved coming back to Leinster.”A squad that I enjoyed coaching as much as playing on.
“I want to express my gratitude to Leo for giving me the chance to return and establish Dublin as our family’s home. I also want to express my gratitude to the players, coaches, staff, and entire UCD community for their kind welcome to Nina, myself, and the kids.
“The opportunity to test yourself at the very highest level is something that I have loved doing with Samoa in the
the last three years, and I am really enthused about this opportunity that Ireland has presented.
“I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to work with one of the greatest teams in the world, as well as with some of the top players and coaches in the world.
“I want to continue doing my best for this club, this group of players, and our supporters, but until then, I look forward to getting stuck into that and building on the great work that Andy Farrell and the other coaches have done to so far.”
“It was evident from the recruitment process that Andrew was a high-calibre candidate, and we are delighted that he will continue his journey in Irish rugby over the coming years,” said David Nucifora, Performance Director of the IRFU.
“In his very short coaching tenure, he has crammed a lot of knowledge into the Irish and international systems.
“His understanding of the global game and his familiarity with the current system here will greatly enhance our environment.”
