Category: Andrew Corbett

GUEST POST : Who Could Replace Leo Cullen at Leinster Rugby? by Andrew Corbett

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For the past decade, Leo Cullen has been the steady hand guiding Leinster Rugby through an era of domestic dominance. Since taking the reins in 2015, Cullen has delivered five United Rugby Championship titles and a Champions Cup triumph in 2018. Yet, despite their glittering squad and attacking flair, Leinster have fallen short on Europe’s biggest stage in recent years—losing four consecutive Champions Cup finals and suffering a semi-final defeat to Northampton in 2025.

Often spoken about as a future Ireland Team Manager, Cullen’s stock has fallen in recent years. The aforementioned European defeats, in particular, have been very damaging. Costly refusals by his teams to “take the three points on offer”, whether by penalty or drop goal, stands in stark contrast to the mindset of the top clubs and international sides – the reigning world champions, South Africa, being a prime example of how to consistently win finals by keeping the scoreboard ticking over.

In comparison to Soccer, Rugby union’s revenue is far smaller and only concentrated in a few regions.  Rugby Union relies heavily on Marquee Events, such as the Rugby World Cup, every four years, and British & Irish Lions tours. These events effectively subsidise the rest of the game. Outside these peaks, most unions and clubs operate at a loss. In 2023/24, the top 10 unions posted a combined loss of almost €130 million, and Premiership/Top 14 clubs lost over €90 million. Figures are harder to come by / assess for the Irish provinces, but the IRFU share was recorded as €18.4 million, which led to the discontinuation of the Men’s Sevens programme, earlier this year. 

The precarious financial position of Rugby Union finances is a problem for Cullen in that he is perceived, by many, to have underachieved with the resources at his disposal. This makes landing another head coach role in the professional game that bit more challenging for him. Clubs and unions want to extract every last ounce from their teams and not be too calm and/or comfortable with defeats.

Leo Cullen is locked in until 2027, so there’s no immediate vacancy. Yet with the RDS Arena redevelopment set to be unveiled ahead of the 2026 Dublin Horse Show, could Leinster Rugby view a change at the helm as part of their new era? Or, indeed, could Cullen himself decide to move on to new pastures? 

With speculation mounting, here are some possible names in the frame to take over:

Jacques Nienaber – The Defensive Mastermind

Currently serving as Leinster’s senior coach, Nienaber arrived fresh from guiding South Africa to back-to-back Rugby World Cup titles. His defensive systems have already tightened Leinster’s game, and his contract runs until 2026. If Cullen moves on, Nienaber is the most logical successor—continuity, pedigree, and proven success at the highest level. Springboks will rarely let their teams turn down three points on offer.

Stuart Lancaster – The Architect of Leinster’s Modern Game

Lancaster’s fingerprints are all over Leinster’s attacking identity. During his tenure (2016–2023), he transformed the province into a powerhouse of skill and structure. After a stint at Racing 92, Lancaster returned to Ireland as Connacht head coach. His familiarity with Leinster’s culture and player development makes him a compelling candidate—if timing aligns.

Michael Cheika – The Maverick Option

Always be wary about the return of a head coach – Warren Gatland and Wales comes to mind! Cheika is a name that sparks debate. The Australian coached Leinster to their first Heineken Cup title in 2009 and has since led national teams and World Cup campaigns. His fiery personality and bold approach could inject fresh energy, but would Leinster gamble on a coach known for volatility?

Internal Promotions – McBryde or Bleyendaal

Robin McBryde (forwards coach) and Tyler Bleyendaal (attack coach) have both signed extensions through 2027. Highly respected within the Leinster setup, they offer continuity if the province opts for evolution rather than revolution. However, neither has head coach experience at this level, which poses a risk. Given the scrum’s standout performance against Munster in an otherwise disappointing defeat, McBryde would likely be the preferred internal candidate over Bleyendaal should Leinster choose to promote from within

External Big Names

Leinster’s job is one of the most coveted in world rugby. Expect speculation around:

  • Joe Schmidt It is hard to keep up with Schmidt. Since stepping down as Ireland head coach in 2019, he has been the Director of Rugby and High Performance at World Rugby, joined the Blues (Super Rugby) as an assistant coach and became a selector and attack coach for the All Blacks, helping them reach the 2023 Rugby World Cup final (lost narrowly to South Africa). He was then appointed Wallabies head coach in January 2024 on a two-year deal, replacing Eddie Jones, tasked with rebuilding Australia ahead of the 2025 British & Irish Lions tour and preparing for the 2027 Rugby World Cup. He has always stated that he wishes to prioritise family commitments but he does still own a house in Dublin! Again, as with Cheiks, always be wary about the return of a head coach.
  • Ronan O’Gara Despite being a fully paid up member of Ireland’s “Sparta”, ROG has family ties to Blackrock (The Dublin one!). Very familiar with Leinster, both as a player and a manager, the mere thought of him taking the job would be too much for many of our southern brethren. Archie Macpherson’s description of the legendary Celtic FC manager, Jock Stein, was that he was “A Protestant chieftain of a Catholic clan”. Sport has seen stranger twists. His arrival would have many players on edge long before the first team meeting.
  • Andy Farrell Although his current contract with the IRFU runs until the end of the 2027 Rugby World Cup, Andy Farrell and Leinster could be a perfect match for each other. He has often highlighted his Irish roots and the sense of community he and his family have found since moving to Dublin. Whilst the life of a rugby coach is often nomadic, Farrell may be reluctant to move again – at least for a while. And who knows, Owen, who will be thirty six in 2027, might decide to join his father as a coach at Leinster? That would be box office!
  • Eddie Jones The “Davy Fitz” of rugby coaches would certainly get a response! Not going to happen, though. Would be box office times ten!
  • Rising stars from Super Rugby or the Top 14 Leinster, as a general rule, have tended to recruit well when looking for head coaches. However, it is unlikely that they will look past established candidates this time around.

The Big Question

Leinster’s next head coach must do more than maintain domestic dominance—they need to conquer Europe. Style of play, cultural fit, and timing will all shape the decision. For now, Leo Cullen remains in charge, but the succession debate is only just beginning…

I’m Andy Corbett and I live in Leopardstown, Dublin. I am a huge sports fan but GAA, Rugby (Both Codes) and Football are my favourites. Enjoy a bit of writing here and there but have been advised to stick to my day job.


This article? Let’s just say it’s the lovechild of some wild spitballing with a few mysterious insiders who
prefer to remain in the witness protection program…

The above article has been published without editorial modification, and the opinions expressed are solely those of the signed author. Harpin On Rugby is committed to providing a platform for rugby fans to share their views through comments, videos, and articles, provided they meet our moderation standards.

OPINION : “I’m still not over the Saints defeat” by Andrew Corbett

We have taken a week off from content-production here at Harpin’ Manor but we have received this article from a follower and we’re more happy to share their take.

If you ever want to get something off your chest that’s Leinster/Ireland men’s rugby related by all means get in touch paganoblog@gmail.com

Come on you boys in blue.

Leinster’s recent Champions Cup defeat to Northampton was a humbling one. What almost all rugby fans thought was impossible, this writer included, was proven to be just the opposite and the Saints were duly rewarded for taking the game to the overwhelming favourites. Viewed by many as a mere formality, many Leinster fans chose to eschew the semi-final at the Aviva stadium and, instead, busied themselves by working out the logistics of the Cardiff trip.

This defeat has stung the most and the frustrations of the fans will only grow louder should the 12 County Army fail to win the United Rugby Championship. Leinster desperately need some silverware this season, but it could be even more difficult now that they have shown they can be got at – Witness the Glasgow Warriors game where the visitors, particularly in the first half, seized the upper hand, and looked a completely different team to the one that lost 52-0 to their hosts at the same venue only weeks earlier. Glasgow showed no fear, and this is something that Leinster have brought upon themselves.

Leinster will go into the playoffs as favourites for the URC title, ending their season eight points clear of the Bulls, who finished second, and set up a home quarter-final against the Scarlets. Favourites they might be but, Leinster have lost their aura. The last time Leinster won the URC title was in the 2020-21 season. Since then, Leinster have finished the regular season top of the table in 2021-22 and 2022-23 but failed to win the competition. Will this year be different? 

Leinster’s failure to capitalise on their potential with all their perceived and oft talked about advantages brings a smile to many fans of other Irish and UK teams. Population, the conveyer belt of talent from, predominantly, the private schools in Dublin and, most importantly these days in rugby, the money Leinster would appear to have, is all meaningless if the team keep falling at the final stages of every competition they play.

Regarding the seemingly endless pool of talent that Leinster can draw from, it has to be noted that there is a big difference between a good rugby player and a great rugby player, to be Dunphy-Esque about it. It also needs to be recognised that whilst Leinster have introduced some outstanding rugby players, since their last Champions Cup win in 2018, it is also fair to say that some of their more senior players are now, or will shortly be, coming to the end of their careers. Without the influence of this officer corps, it’s time for more players to stand up and become true leaders on the pitch. The repeated failure to take the 3 points on offer, whether by penalty or drop goal, is inexcusable – particularly when all the points scored during the 2018 triumph in a rain-soaked Bilbao came from the boots of Sexton and Nacewa.

A glance across at the “other” boys in blue, tells a vastly different story. After Pat Gilroy’s Dublin team won the Sam Maguire for the first time since 1995, along came Jim Gavin who won an unprecedented 5-in-a-row in his haul of 6 titles as the Dublin Manager. Dublin, as we know, went on to win the historic the 6-in-a-row in Dessie Farrell’s first year as manager, and impressively defeated Kerry in 2023 with a team weakened by retirements and injuries.

The Dubs were recognised as the best / second best team for the majority of the 13 years from 2011 to 2023. During this period, they backed it up by winning 9 All Ireland and 6 National League Football titles (albeit one shared with Kerry in 2021) – 15 trophies in 13 years. The likes of Tyrone, Mayo and Kerry were far closer to the Dubs than Ulster, Connacht and Munster have been to Leinster and, in Mayo, especially, they had a formidable opponent where the difference between winning and losing was frequently on a knife edge.

The Dubs possessed a will to win as well as a brilliant capacity for thinking on their feet and solving problems as they arose on the pitch. Leinster, by comparison, have been underwhelming. From 2018 to the present day, Leinster have been arguably recognised as the best / second best team in Europe, and, during this period, they have won 1 Champions League and 4 URC (Guinness Pro 14) titles. This represents a return of 5 trophies in 8 years – winning the URC this year will bump that up to 6 trophies.  

So why is it that the Dubs have been a far more effective team than Leinster? Both teams have and have had talented players and coaches, are well resourced and regularly steamroll over opponents. The answer, then, must lie with the head coach / manager. One example was Jim Gavin’s swashbuckling side, having built up a healthy early lead, were shocked by Donegal and Jim McGuinness in 2014. What happened? Gavin made some tweaks, primarily in defense and Dublin were never again ambushed during his reign. 

By contrast, Leo Cullen has made many serious and costly blunders. Not only does his team seem incapable of “taking the 3 points” pragmatism, Leo has also gambled, and lost, by fielding weakened teams in some important games. The 2022-2023 URC semi-final is a great example of his hubris. With an eye on Europe, his second-string side was outfoxed by Munster, with a Crowley drop goal sealing the win. The last few minutes of the 2022-2023 Champions Cup final had fans screaming at an uninterested Ross Byrne to get into the pocket and demand the ball for what would have surely been the winning score. For a coach who always talks about “learnings” and “lessons” after defeats, he doesn’t appear to learn them. The following season in London against Toulouse, gave us Ross Byrne repeatedly kicking for the corner and passing up 3 points in favour of scoring tries. When these tries failed to materialise, Toulouse took full advantage and Leinster were chasing the game. At least Frawley had the guts to go for the drop goal, to win it, and was very unlucky that it drifted left, but the game should never have come down to that moment. If Leinster had been building their lead, keeping the scoreboard ticking over, then they would have won the match.

With Northampton gassed and down to 14 men, it was not unreasonable to expect that Leinster would have taken the points on offer and, at the very least, brought the game into extra time which would surely have broken the Saints. Instead, yet again, the obsession with scoring tries overruled the head and so to another year without a Champions Cup victory.

I’m sorry Leo, it’s time for you to go. You have been a great servant to Leinster, player and coach, but you need to move on. If you fancy going to Cardiff, I have tickets that I won’t be using…

I’m Andy Corbett and I live in Leopardstown, Dublin. I am a huge sports fan but GAA, Rugby (Both Codes) and Football are my favourites. Enjoy a bit of writing here and there but have been advised to stick to my day job.

The above article has been published without editorial modification, and the opinions expressed are solely those of the signed author. Harpin On Rugby is committed to providing a platform for rugby fans to share their views through comments, videos, and articles, provided they meet our moderation standards.