Noel McNamara will take over from Leo Cullen as Leinster’s head coach starting next season, the Irish province has officially announced.
Coaching Background and Experience
Cullen announced in June that he would step down from his position at the conclusion of the current campaign following a successful 12-year tenure with the team. McNamara currently serves as the attack coach for Bordeaux Begles, the French club that defeated Leinster in the Investec Champions Cup final last season. The 43-year-old previously spent five years at Leinster working in several capacities, including academy manager and head coach of the Leinster ‘A’ team.
He moved to South Africa in 2021 to join the Sharks as backs and attack coach before transitioning to his current position with Bordeaux in 2023. During his time in France, he has contributed to Bordeaux winning consecutive Champions Cups and finishing as runners-up in the Top 14 twice. In May, Leinster struggled against McNamara’s attacking strategy in Bilbao, resulting in a 41-19 victory for the French side. McNamara also guided Ireland to an Under-20s Six Nations Grand Slam victory in 2019.
Reactions to the Appointment
McNamara described the position as one of the premier roles in world rugby. He stated that it is a privilege to receive the responsibility, adding that he remains fully concentrated on the upcoming season with Bordeaux before returning to Leinster next summer.
Shane Nolan, Leinster’s chief executive, stated that McNamara has a longstanding history with the club and quickly became their top choice. Nolan noted that the transition will be smooth and expressed anticipation for his arrival next July once the current campaign concludes.
David Humphreys, the performance director for the IRFU, stated that McNamara possesses an extensive knowledge of Irish rugby. Humphreys added that McNamara brings significant coaching experience, leadership abilities, and a history of player development and team success, and expressed eagerness to collaborate with him to maintain Leinster’s success while aiding the national team’s player development.
During his tenure that began in 2015, Cullen guided Leinster to six league titles and a Champions Cup victory in 2018, though the team subsequently suffered five losses in tournament finals, with four occurring over the past five years.
