www.caymanrugby.com/about-crfu

Head coach of Cayman Island Rugby XV, it seems.

No he left Corinthians about 3 years ago. Not sure what he's doing now.

I remember that coming up at the time. Is he still involved with Corinthians or what is he up to ?

Even further left field......Phil Pretorius.

Not saying he should get it at all but just for the sake of discussion; his style of play would suit, he has worked with some of our players in Corinthians, he has top level coaching experience and is no stranger to the place. I'm pretty sure he was being talked about as a successor to Eric 4 years ago.

I was actually half joking when I started typing but I've nearly convinced myself he could be a candidate.

Here's an extremely left field one, Ben Ryan the Fiji 7s coach:

edition.cnn.com/2017/01/05/sport/ben-rya...ish-lions/index.html

neill_m wrote: Do people think the branch is being given a free hand in finding the new coach and being allowed to bring in another "outsider", i.e. someone from NZ/SA etc or are they being "actively encouraged" to focus on options within the current IRFU setup/Irish coaches currently outside Ireland?

I don't think it matters whether the IRFU wants an Irish coach, they only have one voice on the interview panel, and more importantly (Carolan asides - and it's highly unlikely he's getting the job*) there are no available and suitable Irish coaches inside or outside Ireland**.

* see this: www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/connacht-...cision-35277845.html
"...in terms of the work Eric Elwood is doing in the grassroots game, through the feeder system, the work that Nigel Carolan is doing within our academy, none of that changes"

** see this: www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/connacht-...cessor-35274692.html
"It would be great to get someone who plays an ambitious, attractive style of winning rugby and who is Irish but you may not be able to tick all of those boxes."
Which box do you think they'll leave unticked?

Do people think the branch is being given a free hand in finding the new coach and being allowed to bring in another "outsider", i.e. someone from NZ/SA etc or are they being "actively encouraged" to focus on options within the current IRFU setup/Irish coaches currently outside Ireland?

neill_m wrote: BBC NI linking Neil Doak with the job earlier this evening.

Can one of the mods please move this conversation to the "Hunt for a New Eddie The Eagle" thread? This one is for discussion of potential head coaches.

I don't feel qualified to say whether Doak would be good or bad, but watching that video on the BBC site is interesting. He doesn't admit that he wants it, but he doesn't say no either.

They say he's played down the link, but I'd disagree.

"It's always nice to get your name in certain roles..." "You got to keep your options open" and then he pivots both questions to Ulster and this weekend/European games, but that's it.

neill_m wrote: BBC NI linking Neil Doak with the job earlier this evening.

By all accounts hopefully not.

neill_m wrote: BBC NI linking Neil Doak with the job earlier this evening.

m.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/38510153?ns_...ame=northern_ireland

BBC NI linking Neil Doak with the job earlier this evening.

Can I take it ,him bringing in Neil Francis as a technical advisor , wouldn't work for you either....

Could a mod please ban this person for suggesting such a thing !!

One from very left of leftfield ........... The IRFU , out of misguided loyalty, put pressure on the Branch to appoint Eddie O Sullivan to the job , and give us a ball of money , ala Munster , to make up for it !

Penny has apparently being unsuccessful at a number of attempts to become head coach at a NZ Super Rugby franchise. So his options in NZ seem to be limited.

Think he would be great, but would he come back to Ireland!!!