Kiwi attack coach Roger Randle will no longer join Munster following the backlash since the appointment was announced.
The Irish Independent first reported the news yesterday before Munster Rugby released an official statement later that evening.
In the statement, General Manager Ian Costello said, “This has been a difficult conclusion to reach, but after recent discussions, it became clear that this was the best course of action for Roger, his family and Munster Rugby.”
Head coach Clayton McMillan previously worked alongside Randle during his tenure with the Waikato Chiefs in Super Rugby and is believed to have pushed for the appointment, with the support of Ian Costello and chief executive Ian Flanagan.
In yesterday’s announcement, McMillan said he was “personally disappointed” that they could not resume their working relationship and that he “want[s] to acknowledge Roger’s professionalism throughout this process and the way he has engaged in what have been difficult discussions for everyone.”
The hiring, which saw the 51-year-old be given a two-year deal that was to begin this summer, caused controversy immediately within Munster and their supporters. During the hiring process, a historic accusation against Randle dating back to 1997 resurfaced.
As a player for the Hurricanes, Randle and two teammates were accused of raping a woman while on tour in South Africa. He has always maintained his innocence, and the case was later dropped when the charge was withdrawn. It is understood, however, that the accusation itself was not withdrawn.
Following the termination of the contract, Randle said, “I am deeply saddened that unfounded allegations from nearly 30 years ago — allegations I have always denied — have resurfaced during this process and overshadowed what was a wonderful opportunity to contribute to Munster Rugby. I want to state clearly that these claims are false, and I maintain my complete and unwavering innocence, as I always have.
“It became clear that the renewed public attention around these allegations had created circumstances where proceeding with the role was no longer the right outcome for our family. This is something that we accept with genuine sadness and disappointment.”
In a previous statement, Munster claimed to have carried out due diligence prior to the appointment and was aware of the situation. Despite this, the fallout has been significant, making the decision to cancel Randle’s appointment seemingly unavoidable.
Former players Billy Holland, Killian Keane and Mick O’Driscoll all stepped down from the Professional Games Committee (PGC) in the days following the announcement of Randle’s hiring. It is understood that this decision was taken due to the handling of the hiring process, including the presentation of the appointment as a done deal to the PGC.
This was followed less than a week later by further resignations, this time by members of the Commercial Advisory Group; a voluntary group of individuals involved in business and industry that advise the club on its commercial activities.
Acknowledging the public reaction to the hiring before Munster’s pivotal match with Benetton Treviso nearly two weeks ago, McMillan said, “I fully respect that people will have an opinion, but it’s not an opinion that is shared by me.”
“I’ve known Roger for a long time. I think he’s an outstanding human, well-loved by family and people that have worked alongside him for a long period of time.”
McMillan, a former policeman, was lauded as a culture-builder when he was hired by Munster before the start of the season. Despite his remarks, the supporters’ reaction hasn’t lessened, resulting in the cancellation of Randle’s contract.
The IRFU distanced themselves from the decision to hire the Kiwi, stating that the province did not need union approval to sign assistant coaches. According to The 42, it’s believed that the IRFU had internally expressed its reservations over the deal to Munster.
The news only adds to a tumultuous few months for the proud province which has seen a poor run of form in both the URC and Europe be followed up by the announcement that voluntary redundancies are being sought due to financial challenges.