“Munster definitely needs to change” – Peter O’Mahony launches stinging criticism of province
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Change needed.
Peter O’Mahony has called for major change at Munster Rugby, delivering a damning assessment of how the province has been run in recent years.
The former Munster captain, who retired from professional rugby last year, believes the province needs to examine its governance and says players have not always received the support they needed.
Speaking on the Indo Sport podcast, O’Mahony was directly asked whether he believes Munster is currently a well-run organisation.
“No, I don’t,” O’Mahony said.
“I think Munster needs to have a good look at the governance of the building, the governance of the whole organisation, and I think it needs change.
“It’s not been looked after well enough, and it kills a lot of the guys who have played a lot of rugby.
“I know a lot of good people who’ve left the club, and it breaks their heart seeing some of the stuff that goes on.”
O’Mahony spent his entire professional club career with Munster, making 197 appearances and captaining the province for more than a decade.
Now removed from the playing environment, the 37-year-old says retirement has given him an opportunity to reassess some of what happened during his career.
“We could’ve played better, yes, but at times, we weren’t being looked after,” he said.
“I can see that now because you get a bit more time and you can see the wood from the trees.
“You start to ask a few questions afterwards and figure stuff out.
“And yes, Munster definitely needs to change, certainly its governance and the people who are looking after the place.”
The former Ireland captain also pointed towards the turnover of coaches during his Munster career as evidence of a wider problem.
“I went through six coaches in the same time I went through two with Ireland, with Munster,” he said.
“How do you get consistency? Where is it, like?
“You’re averaging every two years, a new coach. It’s crazy, and they’re bright people.”
O’Mahony was also asked about two of Munster’s most celebrated former players, Ronan O’Gara and Paul O’Connell, and why neither has returned to coach the province.
O’Gara has established himself as one of Europe’s leading coaches with La Rochelle, while O’Connell is a central figure in Andy Farrell’s Ireland coaching staff.
For O’Mahony, their absence is telling…
“Well, that probably says enough in itself,” he added.
“Look, I’d imagine they would love to help, but for the reasons I’ve outlined already, and they’re right not to, because I don’t think they’ll be set up right.
“I don’t think they’ll get the support that they should get.”
