Graham Rowntree Announced As Munster’s New Forwards Coach
Graham Rowntree, who had a 17-year playing career as a highly-regarded loosehead prop, has been a forwards coach and scrum coach with both England and the British & Irish Lions ©INPHO/Billy Stickland
Munster Rugby and the IRFU are pleased to confirm that Graham Rowntree will join the province as forwards coach on completion of his duties with Georgia Rugby in the upcoming Rugby World Cup in Japan.
A highly experienced coach with a wealth of experience at Test level and across the England Premiership, Rowntree, who is currently forwards coach for Georgia Rugby, has signed with Munster until June 2022.
Commenting on the appointment, the province’s acting CEO Philip Quinn said:
We are really pleased to have secured Graham in such a timely manner. The Professional Game Board and Johann (van Graan) have been tirelessly working on our coaching appointments for the past month and to secure a coach of Graham’s calibre is a credit to the work going on behind the scenes.
“We believe Graham is a fantastic appointment for the province as he brings a wealth of experience from an extensive list of top-level coaching positions, and will add further value to our coaching ticket.
“We understand there is more work to be done on the coaching front, and we will continue in our search for experienced coaches to join Johann and the province.”
Looking forward to joining the province, the 48-year-old Rowntree said:
I’m delighted to be joining such a prestigious province. Although fully committed to Georgia until the end of the World Cup, I’m really looking forward to working with Johann and his team.”
Having managed and coached elite players at English Premiership and international level, Rowntree was assistant coach on the 2009, 2013 and 2017 British & Irish Lions tours.
The former Leicester Tigers, England and Lions prop held the roles of assistant coach and forwards coach with England Rugby over a seven-year period, and has previously worked as forwards coach with English Premiership sides Harlequins and Leicester.