IRFU Review Statement

The Irish Rugby Football Union has commenced a review of the Ireland team’s performances at the 2007 Rugby World Cup. Read on for further details.

The IRFU Committee has set up a Review Group, chaired by President Der Healy, to manage the process and to bring the findings to the IRFU Committee where they will be evaluated and decisions taken as to how to address any issues that arise.

To ensure that the review is thorough and effective the IRFU has engaged an independent consultant, Brian Porteous of Genesis Consulting, to carry out a detailed fact finding exercise through confidential consultations with the team management, IRFU administration and others.

He will be able to retain outside expertise to assist in specialist areas as he sees fit. He will report his findings to the Review Group and the IRFU Committee.

Following discussion between the Irish Rugby Union Players’ Association (IRUPA) and the IRFU, Genesis will also be conducting an independent and confidential survey of players’ views by means of a questionnaire and interviews.

As is normal practice, the IRFU Appointments Committee will meet the national coach Eddie O’Sullivan and receive his report and they will then subsequently present their report to the Review Group.

This process will ensure that all relevant factual information can be gathered and that all personnel involved in the preparation for and participation in RWC 2007 are debriefed in a thorough and professional manner for an effective outcome.

Commenting, Philip Browne, Chief Executive of the IRFU, said: “This will be a very thorough procedure, designed to professionally and methodically assess performance in all aspects of our preparation and participation in RWC 2007 and to identify lessons to be learnt for the future.”

While no definite time scale has been placed on the review, the aim would be to complete it promptly without compromising the integrity of the process. It is anticipated that it will require a matter of months to complete.