Ireland's Coaching Reshuffle Ahead of Summer Tour

Paul O'Connell, the legendary Munster lock and current Ireland forwards coach, has been appointed interim head coach for Ireland's upcoming summer tour matches against Georgia and Portugal. This move comes after Simon Easterby's appointment to the British and Irish Lions coaching team for their 2024 tour to Australia.

Coaching Changes and Responsibilities

• Simon Easterby, originally serving as Ireland's interim head coach during Andy Farrell's sabbatical for Lions preparation, will now join Farrell's Lions coaching staff along with Irish colleagues John Fogarty (scrum coach) and Andrew Goodman (backs coach).
• Paul O'Connell, the 45-year-old former Ireland captain with 108 test caps and three Lions tours under his belt (including captaining the 2009 tour to South Africa), will take charge of the Ireland squad for:
  • July 5: Test vs Georgia
  • July 12: Test vs Portugal

IRFU's Statement

David Humphreys, IRFU Performance Director, commented:

"This appointment reflects the outstanding coaching talent within Irish rugby. While we're proud to contribute three coaches to the Lions program, we're equally confident in Paul's ability to lead Ireland through this important development tour."

Tour Details and Expectations

• Squad Composition: Expected to feature emerging talents as many first-choice players will be Lions candidates
• Match Logistics: Venues and kickoff times to be confirmed
• Coaching Team: Full supporting staff announcement expected next week

O'Connell's Coaching Journey

The 2018 World Rugby Hall of Fame inductee joined Ireland's coaching team in 2021 as forwards coach following Easterby's move to defense coaching. This summer tour marks his first opportunity as head coach at test level, continuing Ireland's tradition of developing coaching talent internally.

Historical Context

This represents Ireland's first summer tour since 2021 and provides crucial preparation ahead of the 2024 Autumn Nations Series. The matches against Georgia and Portugal offer valuable opportunities to test squad depth against emerging rugby nations.