BORDEAUX ATTACK COACH Noel McNamara is in line to take over as Leinster head coach next season.
As first reported by the Sunday Times, 43-year-old McNamara is expected to succeed Leo Cullen in what would be his first senior professional head coaching role.
It is understood that the deal for McNamara to take over at Leinster is yet to be completely finalised, but it is considered close to a sure thing.
McNamara has been a key part of Bordeaux’s back-to-back Champions Cup successes, and though his deal with the French club is due to run until 2029, it is thought that Leinster will buy out the contract.
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McNamara would likely be received as an exciting, energising appointment, and he is someone who knows the Leinster system very well.
The Clare native, who never played professional rugby, initially made his name in schools rugby coaching with Clongowes Wood College, as well as with various Leinster and Ireland underage teams.
McNamara had a successful stint as Ireland U20s head coach, leading that team to a Grand Slam in 2019.
He was Leinster academy manager from 2019 until 2021, coaching the Leinster A team in that period, and has worked extensively with lots of the current senior squad.
With a lack of openings in the Leinster coaching ticket around that time, McNamara got further coaching experience outside of Ireland, first via a short-term stint with North Harbour in New Zealand and then on a permanent deal as attack coach with the Sharks of South Africa. Both of those moves were facilitated by the IRFU, signalling the union’s belief that McNamara was a highly promising young coach.
While he was in Durban with the Sharks, McNamara built a strong connection with Frenchman Yannick Bru, who then lured him to the Top 14 in 2023 after Bru was appointed boss of Bordeaux.
McNamara has been working with some world-class talent in Bordeaux but even accounting for that, he has had an undoubted impact on their brilliant attack, helping the likes of Louis Bielle-Biarrey, Damian Penaud and Maxime Lucu to thrive.
McNamara has been pivotal to Bordeaux’s back-to-back Champions Cup titles, with the club hoping to land their first Top 14 title this season.
Thereafter, McNamara is set to bring his coaching talents back to Ireland and lead the new chapter at Leinster, where Cullen will step down after 12 years at the helm.
Ex-Leinster player and assistant coach Felipe Contepomi had been the frontrunner to succeed Cullen, but it now appears that he could continue in his role as Argentina head coach beyond the 2027 World Cup.
The fact that McNamara will be in position to lead Leinster’s full pre-season next summer made him an even more attractive candidate.
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Noel McNamara in line to succeed Leo Cullen at Leinster
BORDEAUX ATTACK COACH Noel McNamara is in line to take over as Leinster head coach next season.
As first reported by the Sunday Times, 43-year-old McNamara is expected to succeed Leo Cullen in what would be his first senior professional head coaching role.
It is understood that the deal for McNamara to take over at Leinster is yet to be completely finalised, but it is considered close to a sure thing.
McNamara has been a key part of Bordeaux’s back-to-back Champions Cup successes, and though his deal with the French club is due to run until 2029, it is thought that Leinster will buy out the contract.
McNamara would likely be received as an exciting, energising appointment, and he is someone who knows the Leinster system very well.
The Clare native, who never played professional rugby, initially made his name in schools rugby coaching with Clongowes Wood College, as well as with various Leinster and Ireland underage teams.
McNamara had a successful stint as Ireland U20s head coach, leading that team to a Grand Slam in 2019.
He was Leinster academy manager from 2019 until 2021, coaching the Leinster A team in that period, and has worked extensively with lots of the current senior squad.
With a lack of openings in the Leinster coaching ticket around that time, McNamara got further coaching experience outside of Ireland, first via a short-term stint with North Harbour in New Zealand and then on a permanent deal as attack coach with the Sharks of South Africa. Both of those moves were facilitated by the IRFU, signalling the union’s belief that McNamara was a highly promising young coach.
While he was in Durban with the Sharks, McNamara built a strong connection with Frenchman Yannick Bru, who then lured him to the Top 14 in 2023 after Bru was appointed boss of Bordeaux.
McNamara has been working with some world-class talent in Bordeaux but even accounting for that, he has had an undoubted impact on their brilliant attack, helping the likes of Louis Bielle-Biarrey, Damian Penaud and Maxime Lucu to thrive.
McNamara has been pivotal to Bordeaux’s back-to-back Champions Cup titles, with the club hoping to land their first Top 14 title this season.
Thereafter, McNamara is set to bring his coaching talents back to Ireland and lead the new chapter at Leinster, where Cullen will step down after 12 years at the helm.
Ex-Leinster player and assistant coach Felipe Contepomi had been the frontrunner to succeed Cullen, but it now appears that he could continue in his role as Argentina head coach beyond the 2027 World Cup.
The fact that McNamara will be in position to lead Leinster’s full pre-season next summer made him an even more attractive candidate.
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Head Coach Leinster Leo Cullen Noel McNamara