There has been widespread shock from fans and journalists alike after Munster Rugby confirmed that head coach Graham Rowntree will depart the club with immediate effect.
The news comes off the back of Munster's poor start to the season which has seen them win just two of their opening six games and lose three consecutive league games for the first time in nine years.
Despite the poor start to the season, Graham Rowntree was the first Munster head coach to bring silverware back to Limerick in twelve years when he masterminded Munster's 2023 win over the Stormers in the URC Final. Munster also finished top of the table in last year's URC.
All together Graham Rowntree spent five years in the South West, first as a forwards coach under Johan Van Graan and then as head coach after the departure of Van Graan in 2022.
While Munster's start to the season has been anything but ideal, the province was hit by a severe injury crisis that saw many of their stalwarts ruled out of crucial games through injury.
26 October 2024; Munster coach Graham Rowntree relaxes on the field before the United Rugby Championship match between Hollywoodbets Sharks and Munster at Hollywoodbets Kings Park in Durban, South Africa. Photo by Shaun Roy/Sportsfile
The most popular candidates to replace Graham Rowntree
Despite it being clear that pressure was mounting on Rowntree, the timing of his departure has come as a complete shock to rugby fans and journalists alike, with this morning's news being met with disappointment from much of the Munster faithful who thought Rowntree was a perfect fit for the club.
Few, if any, coaches in rugby were a better cultural fit for their team than Graham Rowntree was for Munster. Stunned, shocked, reeling, mourning right now. This was absolutely not how this story was supposed to go
— Patricia (@_PatriciaV_) October 29, 2024
This is terrible for the club, players and fans. Wig was the first coach in a long time I felt really got what it meant to be a part of Munster.
Didn’t have the players he needed to drive on after winning the URC, blocked by IRFU.
I wish Graham and his family well. Thanks Wig https://t.co/W5dWz3Ufum— Barry O'Sullivan (@barrysul) October 29, 2024
Popular pundit and former England star Andy Goode also chimed in to express his shock at the news coming out of Limerick this morning.
Shocked to see Graham Rowntree depart @Munsterrugby, he won the @URCOfficial 18 months ago and is a brilliant coach and human being. Sport is ruthless
— Andy Goode (@AndyGoode10) October 29, 2024
While Graham Rowntree's departure is still very fresh, the consensus is clear on who the Munster Rugby fans want to see lead their province forthwith.
Having led La Rochelle to two Champions Cups, Munster legend Ronan O'Gara is the obvious option Munster fans will want to see in charge in Thomond Park. However, the former Munster outhalf signed a new five-year agreement with the Mariners in 2022 that will see him locked up in West France until 2027. It's also likely that the natural progression for O'Gara's career will not be a stint in the URC but instead in test rugby.
In the absence of O'Gara, few Munster fans would complain if they could lure Felix Jones back to the province. After leaving the province in 2019 Jones won back-to-back World Cups with South Africa. However, after his shock departure from his role as England assistant coach in August, the former Munster fullback is being forced to see out a 12-month notice period on his contract.
While Felix Jones is a more feasible option than O'Gara, Munster would either have to pay a hefty fee to buy him out of his England contract or appoint an interim team until Jones' England contract expires in August 2025.
Regardless of who'll take the role on a permanent basis, Munster Rugby CEO Ian Flanagan confirmed that the province's Head of Rugby Operations Ian Costello will take charge of the province on an interim basis starting immediately.
SEE ALSO: Simon Zebo's Munster Assessment Makes Grim Reading For The Province
