Munster senior coach Mike Prendergast will leave the province at the end of the current season.
The highly regarded coach returned to Thomond Park in 2022 after a 10-year spell in France, including stops at Racing 92, Stade Français, Oyonnax and Grenoble.
The Limerick man helped Graham Rowntree’s Munster clinch an unlikely URC title win in 2022/23 and, the following season, saw the province reach the URC semi-finals after a top-of-the-table finish in the regular season.
Last term, he helped lead the province to the Champions Cup quarter-finals after a knock-out win away to La Rochelle.
When Rowntree departed the top role, Prendergast was ultimately overlooked for the position in favour of present head coach, Clayton McMillan.
“My family and I have absolutely loved our time back home since we returned to Munster in 2022,” Prendergast says. “To coach the team I represented as a player has been an incredible honour and this has been a very difficult decision.
“I’ve been in lots of different environments coaching and playing over the years but Munster will always hold a special place in my heart and it has been a really enjoyable four years.
“Working with the players and coaches has been an absolute pleasure but I believe now is the right time for a new challenge.
“For my family, it has been a really special time back home. Working alongside my brother Gar (Academy & Pathway Manager) for the past three years has been a particular highlight.
“I will be giving it my all to ensure that the club can be as successful as it can be as we approach the business end of the season.
“I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Ian, Clayton, the coaches, players and Munster fans for all of their support.”
Prendergast is reportedly a target for former Thomond Park boss Johann van Graan at Bath while Munster will prepare for a coaching reshuffle.
Clayton McMillan said: “Since arriving in Ireland last summer, I’ve had the opportunity to work closely with Mike and it’s clear why he is so highly regarded. He is a brilliant coach with a sharp rugby mind and an ability to connect with players in a way that brings the best out of them.
“His contribution to our coaching group and to the wider environment will be a loss. While we are sorry to see him move on, I have no doubt he will thrive in whatever challenge comes next.
“On behalf of the coaching team, I want to wish Mike and his family every success for the future.”
