RTÉ rugby analyst Bernard Jackman has said that Leo Cullen will have left an “unbelievable legacy” when he steps down from the head coach role at the province at the end of next season.
It was announced on Monday morning that Cullen, who will have 12 seasons under his belt by the time, was stepping away.
Those 12 years will have brought at least one European Cup and six URC titles, and Jackman said there will undoubtedly be a desire to add to that haul before finishing in the role.
“It’s a surprise,” Jackman told RTÉ Sport. “It’s obviously Leo Cullen’s decision – 32 years since he played for Leinster schools, been part of the furniture all bar two and making a decision that he’s not going to stay on after his contract ends in 12 months’ time.
“At least he is going out with a trophy, as of Friday night with the URC back-to-back, and he’ll be hoping potentially that there’s two more trophies next season to finish on a high.
“An unbelievable legacy to Leinster Rugby.”
The announcement comes just three days after Leinster secured their latest URC title with a superb display against the Bulls at Croke Park on Friday.
However, that silverware can’t fully heal the wounds of May’s 41-19 Investec Champions Cup final hammering at the hands of Bordeaux-Begles in Bilbao.
Jackman said that defeat – their fifth European final loss since their last win in 2018 – did ramp up the heat on Cullen.
“There was a lot of pressure, the pressure was building.
Joe McCarthy and Leinster won the 2024/26 URC title at Croke Park
“I thought Friday night’s performance by Leinster was the best performance they’ve put in this season.
“It’s been a tough season, they’ve never really hit top form – the European Cup final was the first time they haven’t been competitive in a final, they’ve been very unlucky in some of the other games.
“There is pressure in Leinster to win European Cups, that’s the benchmark and I’ll suppose he’ll roll up the sleeves and go again this summer and try to win one next year in Lyon and get Leinster’s fifth star.
“For now, I think most fans, and anyone involved with Leinster Rugby, are just recognising the job he’s done and the legacy he’s left behind.”
“He’s 12 years as head coach, 12 years facing media, 12 years trying to get the messaging, and those narrow defeats have certainly hurt him,” Jackman added.
“But I think when you look back at what he’s actually done, overall the consistency has been phenomenal and just trying to get over the line, they’ll have another crack at it next season.”
Leinster, in collaboration with the IRFU, are now beginning a formal recruitment process.
Jackman said that they will have no problem finding suitors for the role.
“It’s one of the most highly-sought after jobs in the world.
“Leo’s contract runs out just before the World Cup, there’ll be a lot of high-profile coaches available after the World Cup.
“There’s some available now. Jacques Nienaber, potentially he could step up, he’s already in the system. Everyone would assume he’ll go back to South Africa after his contract ends next summer, but maybe he’ll stay.
“Scott Robertson, the former All-Black coach, is available now.
“Leinster, with the financial power they have behind them and quality they have, it’ll be one of the most sought-after jobs this whole next 12 months.”