Declan Kidney
Encyclopedia
Declan Kidney is an Irish rugby union coach.
.
He trained as a mathematics
teacher
, in which position he was appointed at Presentation Brothers College, Cork
, and later became the career guidance officer.
He took on the role of rugby coach at the school, where he had initial success as coach of the junior and later senior side.
.
His initial stint at Munster ended in 2002, when he left to become Ireland's assistant coach. He was replaced at Munster by Alan Gaffney
.
In the summer of 2004, he became coach at Newport Gwent Dragons
. However in August 2004, after only 3 months in the job, he left to join Leinster
.
in his first season back, after losing in both 2000 and 2002 in the final. After this win, Kidney was awarded the 2006 Philips Sports Manager of the Year award, and on 24 May 2008, his Munster squad won the Heineken Cup
once again.
when he was appointed as coach of the Irish national side. He coached the Irish team to win the Grand Slam
and Triple Crown in belfast on 21 March 2009 in his first year. He went on to coach Ireland A
to win their first Churchill Cup
.
On 28 November 2009 he was awarded IRB Coach of the Year
. On 9 December 2009 he was awarded Phillips Manager of the Year for the third time in four years, beating Brian Cody
, John Oxx
and Giovanni Trapattoni
to the title. He led Ireland to the quarter finals
of the 2011 Rugby World Cup
where they were defeated 22-10 by Wales
.
Early life
Kidney played rugby for UCC and later for Dolphin RFCDolphin RFC
Dolphin Rugby Football Club is a rugby union club in Cork. It was founded in 1902, by members of Dolphin Swimming Club seeking to find a wintertime activity.They play in Division 1 of the All-Ireland League. In 2007/08 they finished in their highest ever league position- 6th...
.
He trained as a mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
teacher
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
, in which position he was appointed at Presentation Brothers College, Cork
Presentation Brothers College, Cork
Presentation Brothers College is a Catholic, boys-only, fee-paying college based in Cork, Ireland.- History :The college was founded by the Presentation Brothers in 1878, in the South Mall. Soon afterwards it moved to the Grand Parade and, in 1887, to the Western Road...
, and later became the career guidance officer.
He took on the role of rugby coach at the school, where he had initial success as coach of the junior and later senior side.
Early career
Following his coaching of the Irish Schools team, Kidney coached the Ireland under 19s team which won the FIRA World Cup in 1998. After this Tournament he joined MunsterMunster Rugby
Munster Rugby is an Irish professional rugby union team based in Munster, that competes in the RaboDirect Pro12 and Heineken Cup.The team represents the Irish Rugby Football Union Munster Branch which is one of four primary branches of the IRFU, and is responsible for rugby union in the Irish...
.
His initial stint at Munster ended in 2002, when he left to become Ireland's assistant coach. He was replaced at Munster by Alan Gaffney
Alan Gaffney
Alan Gaffney is an Australian-born rugby coach, currently an assistant with the NSW Waratahs in the Super Rugby tournament.He is a former player who played over 200 games with the Randwick Rugby Club Sydney, of which he was elected a life member in 1993....
.
In the summer of 2004, he became coach at Newport Gwent Dragons
Newport Gwent Dragons
Newport Gwent Dragons are one of the four professional Rugby Union regional teams in Wales. They are jointly owned by Newport RFC and the Welsh Rugby Union and play all their home games at Rodney Parade, Newport. They play in the RaboDirect Pro12, the Anglo-Welsh Cup and the Heineken Cup...
. However in August 2004, after only 3 months in the job, he left to join Leinster
Leinster Rugby
Leinster Rugby, usually referred to simply as Leinster, is an Irish professional rugby union team based in Dublin, representing the Irish province of Leinster, that competes in the RaboDirect Pro 12 and also competes in the Heineken Cup...
.
Success with Munster
He rejoined Munster in 2005, winning the Heineken CupHeineken Cup
The Heineken Cup is one of two annual rugby union competitions organised by European Rugby Cup involving leading club, regional and provincial teams from the six International Rugby Board countries in Europe whose national teams compete in the Six Nations Championship: England, France, Ireland,...
in his first season back, after losing in both 2000 and 2002 in the final. After this win, Kidney was awarded the 2006 Philips Sports Manager of the Year award, and on 24 May 2008, his Munster squad won the Heineken Cup
2007-08 Heineken Cup
The 2007–08 Heineken Cup was the 13th edition of the Heineken Cup, the annual rugby union European club competition for clubs from the top six nations in European rugby.The start of the tournament was delayed because of the 2007 Rugby World Cup...
once again.
Ireland
Kidney was succeeded as newridge coach in July 2008 by Tony McGahanTony McGahan
Tony McGahan is an Australian rugby union coach and the current director of coaching of Munster.-Early career:Born in Queensland, Australia, a teacher by profession, a BE in Physical Education from Queensland University of Technology, he played Rugby Union with Queensland Schoolboys and Eastern...
when he was appointed as coach of the Irish national side. He coached the Irish team to win the Grand Slam
2009 Six Nations Championship
The 2009 Six Nations Championship, known as the 2009 RBS 6 Nations because of the tournament's sponsorship by the Royal Bank of Scotland, was the tenth Six Nations Championship, an annual rugby union competition contested by the six major Northern Hemisphere rugby union national teams...
and Triple Crown in belfast on 21 March 2009 in his first year. He went on to coach Ireland A
Ireland A national rugby union team
The Ireland Wolfhounds are the second national rugby union team behind the Irish national side. They have previously competed in the Churchill Cup together with the England Saxons and the full national teams of Canada and the United States as well as selection of other nations' 1st, 2nd and 3rd...
to win their first Churchill Cup
Churchill Cup
The Churchill Cup was an annual rugby union tournament, held in June, contested by representative men's teams from Canada, England, the United States, and other invited teams from a wide array of countries....
.
On 28 November 2009 he was awarded IRB Coach of the Year
IRB International Coach of the Year
The IRB International Coach of the Year is awarded by the International Rugby Board in the autumn each year.-List of winners:* 2001: Rod Macqueen * 2002: Bernard Laporte * 2003: Clive Woodward * 2004: Jake White * 2005: Graham Henry...
. On 9 December 2009 he was awarded Phillips Manager of the Year for the third time in four years, beating Brian Cody
Brian Cody
Brian Cody is an Irish hurling manager and former player, currently managing the Kilkenny senior inter-county team, where he has been in charge since 1998...
, John Oxx
John Oxx
John M. Oxx is a trainer of Thoroughbred racehorses. His stables are located on "The Curragh" of Kildare, the stables are named Currabeg Stables. His father, John Oxx Sr., was also a very successful trainer who won eight Irish classics and it was the younger Oxx's ambition to follow in his...
and Giovanni Trapattoni
Giovanni Trapattoni
Giovanni Trapattoni , sometimes known as "Trap" or "Il Trap", is an Italian football coach and former player, considered the most successful club coach in the history of Serie A. As a player he was part of Italy's squad at the 1962 FIFA World Cup....
to the title. He led Ireland to the quarter finals
2011 Rugby World Cup knockout stage
The knockout stage of the 2011 Rugby World Cup began on 8 October with a quarter-final between Ireland and Wales and concluded on 23 October with the final at Eden Park in Auckland....
of the 2011 Rugby World Cup
2011 Rugby World Cup
The 2011 Rugby World Cup was the seventh Rugby World Cup, a quadrennial international rugby union competition inaugurated in 1987. The International Rugby Board selected New Zealand as the host country in preference to Japan and South Africa at a meeting in Dublin on 17 November 2005...
where they were defeated 22-10 by Wales
Wales national rugby union team
The Wales national rugby union team represent Wales in international rugby union tournaments. They compete annually in the Six Nations Championship with England, France, Ireland, Italy and Scotland. Wales have won the Six Nations and its predecessors 24 times outright, second only to England with...
.
Notable Trophy Wins
- IRB U19s World Championship 1998
- Celtic LeagueCeltic League (rugby union)The Celtic League is an annual rugby union competition involving professional sides from Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales....
: 2002/03
- Heineken CupHeineken CupThe Heineken Cup is one of two annual rugby union competitions organised by European Rugby Cup involving leading club, regional and provincial teams from the six International Rugby Board countries in Europe whose national teams compete in the Six Nations Championship: England, France, Ireland,...
: 2005/062005-06 Heineken CupThe 2005–06 Heineken Cup was the eleventh edition of the European Heineken Cup rugby union club tournament. 24 teams from 7 different countries took part, with the opening game played on Friday October 21, 2005...
& 2007/082007-08 Heineken CupThe 2007–08 Heineken Cup was the 13th edition of the Heineken Cup, the annual rugby union European club competition for clubs from the top six nations in European rugby.The start of the tournament was delayed because of the 2007 Rugby World Cup...
- Triple Crown: 20092009 Six Nations ChampionshipThe 2009 Six Nations Championship, known as the 2009 RBS 6 Nations because of the tournament's sponsorship by the Royal Bank of Scotland, was the tenth Six Nations Championship, an annual rugby union competition contested by the six major Northern Hemisphere rugby union national teams...
- 2009 Six Nations Championship2009 Six Nations ChampionshipThe 2009 Six Nations Championship, known as the 2009 RBS 6 Nations because of the tournament's sponsorship by the Royal Bank of Scotland, was the tenth Six Nations Championship, an annual rugby union competition contested by the six major Northern Hemisphere rugby union national teams...
(Grand Slam)
- 2009 Churchill Cup2009 Churchill CupThe 2009 Churchill Cup took place between June 6 and June 21, 2009, in the seventh year of the tournament.For the first time in the tournament's history, all rounds were held in the United States in an effort to reduce the cost of the tournament after the discontinued sponsorship by Barclays and to...
External links
- BBC – Kidney in new IRFU Role
- DECLAN KIDNEY FACTFILE Sporting Life
- ESPN Profile