Jerry Flannery.
INPHO/BRYAN KEANE
Jerry Flannery has joined English side Harlequins as their lineout coach. The 41-year-old former Munster and Ireland hooker was on the coaching staff at Munster between 2014 and 2019 . Flannery said: ‘‘I see Harlequins as a real sleeping giant of a club. When I was a kid I used to watch Keith Wood playing over there. They have always had a strong tradition. You are looking at clubs mirroring what I would have grown up with, a very traditional club, much like Munster was, very strong supporter base as well. They have a very specific way of playing, they are aligned to an attacking game, that is in their DNA.’’ Flannery was a Heineken Cup winner with Munster in 2006 and 2008 and won 41 Ireland caps. He was also a strength and conditioning coach at Arsenal in 2013/14. Quins are currently seventh in the Premiership, which is provisionally set to resume on Aug. 15.
Meanwhile the IRFU has announced that club rugby matches will be permitted to be played in September as part of the union’s Return to Rugby program during the coronavirus. pandemic. The return date has also factored in a five-week contact training phase ahead of a return to competition, while the IRFU also stated that a modified season is being planned for the 20/21 campaign.
-- Sean Creedon
