1 day Ago By Irishexaminer.com
Leinster head coach Leo Cullen has penned a new two-year deal with the province. In a joint IRFU and Leinster announcement on Tuesday morning, news of Cullen's contract extension was announced, which is set to keep him at the province until the end of the 2026/27 campaign. Cullen, who won 32 caps for Ireland and 221 caps for Leinster as a player, including captaining three Champions Cup winning squads, was appointed head coach in August of 2015.
During his tenure, he has led Leinster to a Champions Cup title in 2018, as well as four United Rugby Championship titles. "I am delighted and honoured to have been asked to continue in my role as head coach of Leinster Rugby," Cullen said on the announcement. "I’d like to thank Shane Nolan and Guy Easterby of Leinster and David Humphreys of the IRFU who have all been involved throughout this process.
"We are lucky to have a fantastic group of players and staff here at Leinster who I enjoy going to work with every day. Everyone in the group is focused on working hard, maximising our potential and making our families, friends and supporters proud of what we do on the pitch. I’m really excited by what the future holds for us.
"Finally, a special thanks to my wife Dairine and my own family for their continued support and for all the sacrifices they make for me." Added Leinster CEO Shane Nolan: "Leinster Rugby has won five trophies under Leo’s direction, making him the club’s most successful coach. Nearly 100 players have made their debuts under him, the vast majority of whom come through our pathway.
"Yes, we have come up short in the last three years and while we are very conscious of that fact, my remit and that of the club in making a head coach appointment, is to also look beyond that. "We are consistently competing in finals year after year, we continue to develop exciting homegrown talent from our pathways, and when we do look externally for coaching or player recruitment, we continue to attract the highest calibre of talent to our club who are excited to work with Leo. "While the last three years hurt, no-one feels that hurt more than Leo and of course, his players and coaches.
"But the page has turned. A new season is already underway in a new home, with record season ticket numbers, new coaches, new players and Leinster sitting top of the United Rugby Championship table after a strong start to the season. You can see that Leo and his squad, indeed the whole club, are as ambitious and as hungry for success as ever.
"Beyond the playing field, Leo uniquely understands the Leinster eco-system, our communities, our culture and our DNA. So when you factor all of these points together, offering Leo a two-year contract extension was an easy decision to make and we are delighted to confirm it here this morning.".
