Leamy Joins Leinster Senior Coaching Team
Former back rower Denis Leamy will be Munster's defence coach under Graham Rowntree, the province's incoming head coach ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan
Leinster Rugby have appointed former Munster and Ireland back rower Denis Leamy as contact skills coach.
Leamy had already been working with Leinster as an Elite Player Development Officer since October 2019. The 39-year-old has already started his new role under head coach Leo Cullen.
Prior to joining Leinster, the Tipperary native played with Munster until his retirement in 2012 at the age of 30 due to a hip injury.
He won 144 Munster caps having made his debut in September 2001 and played in both the 2006 and 2008 Heineken Cup finals.
Leamy was also capped 57 times by Ireland, played in two Rugby World Cups, was a member of the 2009 Grand Slam-winning side and twice a Triple Crown winner.
Commenting on his new coaching role, he said: “I am thrilled to be Leinster Rugby’s new contact skills coach.
“It is my hope to build on the great work that Hugh Hogan has done over the last four years or so.
“I would like to thank Leinster Rugby for this opportunity. It is an honour for me to be to be working with one of Europe’s premier teams, and I am very much looking forward to the challenge ahead in the coming seasons.”
Cullen welcomed the addition of his former Ireland team-mate to his senior coaching team where he joins Stuart Lancaster, Robin McBryde, Felipe Contepomi and Emmet Farrell.
“Denis has been with us and in and around Leinster Rugby for a few years now so he is well established and is a familiar face,” said the Leinster head coach.
“In particular working with some of our younger players in their development. He has been a huge asset to the province.
“The contact skills role is something we see as hugely important to the overall success of the senior team on a number of fronts.
“Denis is someone who has achieved and experienced so much in terms of his own playing career and has accumulated vast knowledge over the years.
“He was a fierce competitor on the field and he will be a great role model for our current crop of players. We are all very excited to see what he can bring to the role.”
Following retirement and prior to joining Leinster, Leamy had been working with Rockwell College, with Garryowen FC in the All-Ireland League, and with Munster’s underage teams.
He also spent time working as head coach of Cashel Rugby Club as well as being part of Tipperary’s 2016 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship-winning backroom team.
More recently, Leamy has been involved with Leinster’s age-grade sides and the Leinster ‘A’ team, and he was involved with the Ireland Under-20s as defence coach during this year’s U-20 Six Nations.