Stuart Lancaster has joined Leinster until the end of the season as “senior coach.”
The former England coach joined as a replacement for Kurt McQuilkin, who has returned home to New Zealand for family reasons.
What a signing @leinsterrugbyhttps://t.co/57O5yz6EDh
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) September 5, 2016
Leinster coach Leo Cullen was asked about the specifics of Lancaster’s role at the club in Monday’s press conference, and it appears the 46-year-old will work predominately on Leinster’s defence, with a remit to work on other areas.
When asked who will be the defence coach, Cullen replied: “Well, Stuart will straight away.”
“He will be stepping into the breach this week as we have a tough challenge this weekend (away) against Glasgow. There is definitely areas we can get better. Stuart will take over that this week.”
“If you go over my experience as a coach I have coached every part of the game,” Lancaster said.
“I have coached now for 16 years. I think there is a perception in England that I didn’t do any coaching. Andy Farrell clearly led on defence but I was coaching defence not less than three weeks ago in New Zealand with Counties Manukau.
“So I got my own philosophy. Clearly it has been influenced by the defence coaches I have worked under. I watched Mike Ford when he was England defence coach, worked with Andy Farrell, worked with Paul Gustard in Argentina when he came with me.
“I understand a lot about defence.”
Lancaster also said he has scope to assist Girvan Dempsey, Leinster’s attack coach, and Peter Smyth, the head of the club’s academy.
“I got a reasonably broad range. Hopefully I think I can influence some of the attacking stuff as well and also reach down a little bit to some of the academy work. I come from a player development background.”
The former England head coach said his primary aim is to help “Leinster Rugby become the dominant force in Europe again and obviously go one better.”
Lancaster resigned from his role with England last November, after four years in the job, following the host country’s exit in the pool stages of the Rugby World Cup.
