Ford may leave Ireland for Saracens

The IRFU and Saracens remained tight-lipped yesterday on speculation that Mike Ford, the man credited with revolutionising Ireland's defensive system, may leave Eddie O'Sullivan's coaching team to take up a full-time role with the English club.

Ford, who has been working part-time with the English Premiership outfit since last September, with the IRFU's blessing, is understood to have discussed a permanent deal with the club.

His departure would come as a massive blow to the IRFU and they would struggle to replace one of the game's most highly-rated defensive organisers.

Ford, who will be working alongside O'Sullivan with the Lions in June, refused to be drawn on the speculation yesterday.

"I'm still with Ireland at the moment," he said. "I'm discussing a few things with Eddie (O'Sullivan) and looking forward to next year."

A spokesman for Saracens maintained "no announcement has been made", while the IRFU insist Ford is contracted with the union until after the World Cup in 2007 and remains an integral part of the backroom staff.

Ford, who has made his presence felt since taking up his role as defensive and skills coach at Saracens, is seen as one of the key figures in landing the signature of Andy Farrell, who he played with for Great Britain, from Wigan.

After a 20-year playing and coaching career in rugby league, Ford joined the Irish coaching ticket in January 2002 and was quick to bring the discipline and defensive strategies forged in the league code to the Irish set-up.

As the tackle count went up - Ireland made 106 hits in the 19-13 Six Nations win over England this year - the penalty count went down and a side that had been leaking one try too many gradually became parsimonious in defence.

Despite an ultimately disappointing Six Nations campaign, the manner of the defeats by France and Wales will have rankled with the Oldham native, but Ford's stock as a defensive coach has risen considerably and with his England counterpart, Phil Larder, another league convert, he is considered among the best in the business.

His inclusion in Clive Woodward's staff for the Lions tour of New Zealand came as no surprise, and although he will work primarily with the midweek side, Ford's wealth of experience makes him an invaluable addition to the travelling party.

Meanwhile, the decision on Matt Williams future as coach to the Scottish national team was postponed yesterday following a meeting of the Scottish Rugby Union (SRU). Following the board meeting in Murrayfield, the SRU issued a brief statement saying that a decision would be taken at the end of the month.

"At its meeting this morning, the board of Scottish rugby received a presentation from Matt Williams, the national coach," said the statement. "It also considered the comprehensive report prepared by rugby division on Scotland's performance in the RBS Six Nations Championship. The board will continue to review all of the information provided and expects its deliberations to be completed by the end of April."

Connacht coach Michael Bradley has named a travelling squad of 26 players for Sunday's European Challenge Cup semi-final against the Sale Sharks to provide several walking wounded with an opportunity to prove their fitness ahead of the second-leg clash.

Flanker Matt Lacey has been ruled out with a shoulder injury sustained in the opening minutes of last Saturday's Celtic League clash with the Dragons, and another six players remain doubtful.

There is special concern about the frontrow, as three props - Peter Bracken (back), Ray Hogan (hamstring) and Dan McFarland (shoulder) - are nursing knocks, while hooker John Fogarty has a neck injury. Ireland Under-21 Joe Merrigan has been included in the travelling part.

CONNACHT (from):R Hogan, D McFarland, J Fogarty, J Merrigan, B Jackman, S Knoop, A Clarke, T Buckley, C Short, A Farley, P Neville, M Swift, B O'Connor, J O'Sullivan, M Carroll, M Walls, C Keane, E Elwood, P Warwick, J Downey, M McHugh, D Yapp, C McPhillips, T Robinson, D Slemen, M Mostyn.