Jerry Flannery set to swap Arsenal for Munster next season

Jerry Flannery is set to swap Arsenal for Munster after the former forward was confirmed as a member of Anthony Foley’s coaching set-up for next season.

With 94 Munster caps and 41 Ireland caps to his name the Limerick-man is set to be province’s scrum coach and he will work closely with the academy and provincial age-grade squads after retiring from the game in March 2012.

Life after rugby saw the Grand Slam winning player complete a Masters in Sports Performance at the University of Limerick before joining Premier League outfit Arsenal in 2013 for work placement as strength and conditioning coach.

Former Munster centre Brian Walsh joins the province as assistant coach, with responsibility for attack and backs, while skills coach Ian Costello has been promoted to assistant coach, with responsibility for defence and kicking.

Head coach Foley and Mick O’Driscoll, announced as Technical Advisor in April, will be reunited with former colleague Flannery as he completes the coaching ticket as scrum coach.

With Anthony at the helm we look forward to seeing this group work together in achieving success for Munster Rugby

Garrett Fitzgerald

The new coaching team will commence their roles on 1 July after signing two-year contracts that will see them remain with the province until at least June 2016.

On confirming the backroom staff Munster chief executive Garrett Fitzgerald said, “We have spent the last few months carrying out an extensive recruitment process and believe we have chosen the right candidates to take Munster forward.

“We have a unique situation here; in not only appointing all Irish coaches, we are extremely proud to appoint coaches that have learned their trade within the province. It is a reflection of the level of coaches on offer in Irish Rugby.

“With Anthony at the helm we look forward to seeing this group work together in achieving success for Munster Rugby.”