FORMER MUNSTER SCRUM-HALF Mike Prendergast will take over as backs coach of Top 14 club Grenoble from next season.
The 36-year-old is currently in his first year as skills coach with the Isére-based club, but will be promoted to the more demanding and influential role for the 2014/15 campaign. This move follows the news that Bernard Jackman will assume the head coaching position with Grenoble next season.
Prendergast admitted to TheScore.ie that he was surprised with how quickly his rise in the coaching staff had come, but with current backs specialist Franck Corrihons leaving at the end of the season, the position had become available and Grenoble wasted no time in offering the former Young Munster Director of Rugby the chance.
Accepting the club’s proposal was a no-brainer for the ambitious young coach, who remains focused on helping Grenoble maintain their excellent form in the Top 14. The shock win away to Toulon yesterday was the latest highlight in a season that has so far been full of them.
I’ll be doing the backs next year, so there’s a bigger role there obviously,” Prendergast told TheScore.ie. “Our backs coach is leaving, he’s moving on, so the opportunity arose. It’s great, and obviously Bernard is going in as head coach which is good.
“Obviously, I’ve a good working relationship with him. I didn’t see it happening so quick, but luckily enough it’s presented itself and it’s something I look forward to. There’s still a lot of rugby to be played this season but it’s something, I suppose at the end of the season, I’ll be looking forward to.”
Prendergast’s promotion comes as a further positive for the small group of Irish coaches plying their trade in France, also including Jackman and Jeremy Davidson at Aurillac. With opportunities limited at a professional level in Ireland, more of our talented young coaches may turn to options abroad.
Check out TheScore.ie tomorrow morning for a full-length interview with Prendergast, where he discusses the win against Toulon, European ambitions and the Irish contingent at Grenoble.
