In a significant coup, clearly arising out of Argentina's recent stay in Dublin, Clontarf yesterday confirmed that Alex "Grizz" Wyllie had agreed to a two-year deal as the club's coach, starting as soon as Argentina's World Cup ends. Wyllie, who coached the All Blacks at the 1991 World Cup, is currently in his third year of a three-year contract as technical adviser to Argentina.
After coaching the All Blacks, Wyllie (52) also coached Eastern Province in South Africa for five years, all of which followed on from a distinguished playing career. The former Canterbury loose forward played 40 times for New Zealand, making 11 Test appearances between 1970 and 1973. Clontarf have played host to a sizeable colony of New Zealanders in recent years and have maintained this strong Kiwi influence by replacing current St Mary's coach Brent Pope with Wyllie.
The club's president, Michael Brown, said: "We are delighted to get such a very well qualified and respected coach as Alex Wyllie. We know that he will feel right at home here in Clontarf and we wish him every success for the coming seasons."
Wyllie himself said: "I always loved Ireland and I am delighted to be offered the chance to coach in Dublin."
Wyllie will also coach the Clontarf under-20s, and will have an input into the club's feeder school St Paul's College, where Wyllie will coach the senior team.
Clontarf currently hold the Heineken Leinster Senior Cup, and it so happened that the draw for this season's revised tournament (to be played from late September through October) was made yesterday. Clontarf had the misfortune to be drawn first out of the hat and so now play just one of three first round matches in a competition this year expanded to 19 clubs.
Almost invariably, Clontarf were drawn against Terenure (it seems to be an annual event of late) in the only first or second round tie featuring two first division clubs. DLSP, last season's beaten finalists, begin their centenary Cup campaign with a home tie against either Co Carlow or Old Wesley.
Australian centre Jason JonesHughes has been cleared to play for Wales in the World Cup next month, the Welsh Rugby Union confirmed yesterday.
Jones-Hughes has won his appeal to the International Rugby Board over his Welsh eligibility and is expected to join Wales's training camp this weekend.
