Ella now tipped as Leinster coach

Rugby NewsLeinster's search for a new coach has taken them all the way to Australia and a famous rugby dynasty. Gary Ella is reviewing a contract to take over from fellow Australian Matt Williams, the latter having decamped to Scotland and the national team position after this year's World Cup.

Jonathan Callard's decision to turn down the job of head coach at Leinster at the 11th hour meant the four-man panel charged with selecting the new man - Mick Dawson, Eddie Wigglesworth, John Hussey and Brian McLoughlin - had to change tack.

They had the prescience to establish a pecking order on the final shortlist of three and it is to Ella they have turned. Gary is one of three famous brothers, the others being twins Mark and Glen, all of whom played for Australia in the 1980s.

Mark was a superbly gifted outhalf and the star of the 1984 Grand Slam tour, scoring a try against each of the home countries. He is the current Wallabies backs' coach.

Gary, the youngest of the triumvirate (42), also had a spell as coach to the Australian backline, when Bob Dwyer was head coach.

A former centre, he would be well known to former Leinster coach Williams and current Munster coach Alan Gaffney. If he does get the position then it simply reconfirms that Leinster are looking for a backs' coach who will also be given the head coach salary and title.

No decision has been made, and it is unlikely Leinster will commit anything to the public domain until the new coach is wearing a tracksuit and drinking tea and eating sandwiches in Anglesea Road after the province's first training session.

Meanwhile, the Munster players issued the following statement in support of Frankie Sheahan. "The Munster players and management are well aware that Frank Sheahan has been an asthma sufferer since 1977 and has used a Ventolin inhaler to enable him to play rugby.

"The Munster players and management would like to record their full and unqualified support of Frank Sheahan. They are very confident that he will be successful in his appeal and that his good name and integrity will be restored. Everybody looks forward to a speedy resumption of his career with Munster."

Sheahan's family issued a lengthy statement on Saturday outlining their astonishment and extreme dismay at the findings of the ERC independent judicial tribunal.