Looks like the end is nigh for Declan Kidney

According to reports today, Irish rugby coach Declan Kidney will know his fate in three weeks, and it probably won’t be good news for him either.

Thanks to the total ineptitude of France, Ireland didn’t finish bottom of the Six Nations table but it was the worst season for the Irish international team since 1998. As timings go, that is terrible for coach Declan Kidney, who is out of contract at the end of the season.

It was suspected that the IRFU would let Kidney’s contract run until the summer, meaning he would take charge of the summer tour of America in June. However, today’s Irish Times reports that the Cork man could be gone in three weeks.

Gerry Thornley reports that Kidney will meet the IRFU’s National Team Review Group on Wednesday and they are expected to report back within three weeks. Thornley says that the IRFU are not in the mood to give Kidney and his coaching team a new deal in the summer and they believe it would be best to have a new coach and backroom team in place for the games with the USA and Canada, so that the rebuilding can begin as soon as possible.

The report goes on to say that the IRFU are sympathetic to the monster injury list Kidney has had to work through this year but that won’t be enough to save him.

As for the new man to step in, the report says that defence coach Les Kiss, with Anthony Foley involved, is the most likely new man in the hotseat.