After Dan Goggin and Ger Lyons were pulled from his squad for Saturday’s Munster Senior Cup final to take part in an Ireland 7s training camp, Young Munster coach David Corkery has launched a scathing attack on the IRFU.
The decision was made on Thursday, and left Munsters without two of their standout performers throughout the season for their provincial decider with Cork Con, which they went on to lose by a converted try.
Speaking to Aoife Danagher in The Irish Times, former Ireland international Corkery said:
It’s a fucking disgrace, for players for have missed this game for a fucking Irish 7s training camp, after what we have gone through all year, a fucking disgrace, and you can quote me on that 100 per cent.
The IRFU need to a have a serious look at themselves in the mirror. They pulled some of the Cons boys for a Under-20s practice game so if that’s how they treat the Munster Senior Cup, with 100 years history then they need to seriously fucking look at themselves.
Corkery, who isn't being paid in his role as coach at Young Munster, told Danagher that even if he was being paid he would still speak his mind regarding the IRFU's priorities. The Cork man explained that while his former club Con "100% deserved their victory", the suits in the IRFU do not treat Ireland's clubs with the respect they deserve.
It is just a complete slur towards the club and I don’t know if I am overstepping my mark but that is the way I feel.
They view that [an upcoming 7s tournament] as more important than a Munster Senior Cup game, then they need to start looking at themselves. Guys that are just trying to earn their wage, and this is how they do it. They pull players from clubs who have their fucking backs into the walls already. It was just disappointing.
There's no doubt there'll be a number of coaches in the country who agree with the outspoken Corkery, who earned 27 caps for Ireland in the mid-'90s.
For the rest of the explosive interview, head over to the Irish Times. You can also follow Aoife Danagher on Twitter.
