The promise Rowntree has made in first interview as Munster boss

Graham Rowntree has given his first interview since starting work as the new Munster head coach, welcoming the Irish province’s new signings and promising that his promotion from scrum coach to taking full charge at the club won’t change his personality. It was 15 weeks ago – on April 12 – when the ex-England and Lions prop was confirmed as the successor to the Bath-bound Johann van Graan. 

The pair saw out the remainder of the 2021/22 season working together in a campaign that culminated in quarter-finals Heineken Champions Cup and URC losses, but Rowntree has now returned to work this week as the boss.

He held his first training session on Monday in Limerick with his raft of new assistant coaches with him on the field, a line-up that includes attack coach Mike Prendergast, defence coach Denis Leamy and forwards coach Andi Kyriacou. 

In his first interview as head coach, a short video released by Munster that was shot in the conference room at their high-performance centre, Rowntree talked about the challenge of stepping up to his new role, his new staff and players, and why becoming a head coach won’t alter his character.     

“It’s a great club. I have been here three years now, it’s a special club, special people so when the possibility came up I was very interested,” he explained when asked why he wanted to become the head coach. “It was quite a lengthy process as it should be for quite a big role, for a big club. It’s a feeling of pride to be able to lead such a great group of people.  

“I have learned from some great people, I have been very blessed from an early age in my coaching career to work with some good guys but what I have learned more than anything is to be yourself. That is certainly something I will be bringing to this role. You have got to be yourself always and that is what I plan to do with this role.

“They [the players] know me, they know my coaching style, I know them all enough where I can be very honest with them so I will have to have some tough conversations with them selection-wise but they are used to that. I have always been very honest in my feedback, I don’t want to be changing as a bloke and as a coach. I understand the role will be different but I will be myself with these guys.”

Taking about the new Munster signings, Rowntree added: “Malakai (Fekitoa) speaks for himself and (Antoine) Frisch excites me, a sought-after young man in the Premiership. Both incredible players, dynamic. And Chris Moore is a young guy we found at Exeter University, Irish-qualified, a hooker, energetic, good set-piece, he’ll fit in well to our environment.” 

Regarding his new coaching staff, ex-England assistant Rowntree explained: “Good guys with the same coaching philosophy as I have. I did my research with players who have worked with these coaches before and other coaches who coached with them as well. We are quite aligned in our view of the game and how we want to structure the day and the environment. I’m delighted with them.”