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Rugby Union

McNaughton named new Ireland team manager

19/05/2008

Former international player Paul McNaughton has been appointed the new Ireland team manager to work alongside new coach Declan Kidney.

McNaughton, who has worked with provincial side Leinster in recent years, will take up his post alongside Kidney following the end of Munster's Heineken Cup campaign.

Commenting on his appointment, McNaughton said: "I am looking forward to working with Declan and the rest of the players over the coming months and beyond.

"I can echo his sentiments by saying that there is no greater honour than working with your own national team and while certainly there are challenges ahead for all of us, there is also a certain amount of anticipation about the possibilities that exist for Irish rugby and this squad."

In the climax to the European rugby season, Munster face French side Toulouse in the final of the Heineken Cup this weekend at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium.

As a result, neither Kidney nor McNaughton will not be involved in preparing the squad for the Barbarians match or the summer tour of Australia and New Zealand.

McNaughton continued: "Declan's focus will remain totally on the Munster team for the next number of weeks and following this we will be setting about putting in place the structures around the team ahead of the autumn internationals, which gives us a certain amount of latitude to do that."

Irish Rugby Football Union chief executive Philip Browne added: "Paul brings a wealth of international experience to the management of the team and has a reputation that is held in the highest regard throughout the rugby and business communities."