McNaughton named as Ireland manager

RUGBY NEWS:PAUL McNAUGHTON has been named as Ireland rugby team manager, the first appointment in the new national management team led by coach Declan Kidney.

The former Ireland international centre has been appointed up to and including the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.

He will officially take up his position in tandem with Kidney following Saturday's Heineken Cup final between Munster and Toulouse at the Millennium stadium. He will not be involved in the preparation of the Ireland team for the match against the Barbarians at Kingsholm and the summer tour.

McNaughton, who has enjoyed a couple of rugby management roles in Leinster and has worked with Kidney when the latter was at the province, admitted: "I am looking forward to working with Declan and the rest of the players over the coming months and beyond.

"I can echo his sentiments by saying there is no greater honour than working with your own national team and while certainly there are challenges ahead for all of us, there is also a certain amount of anticipation about the possibilities that exist for Irish rugby and this squad.

"Declan's focus will remain totally on the Munster team for the next number of weeks and following this we will be setting about putting in place the structures around the team ahead of the autumn internationals, which gives us a certain amount of latitude to do that."

Educated at Rockwell College where he won Munster Schools JCT (1968) and SCT (1970) medals before going on to study Economics at Trinity College, Dublin. He spent 30 years in the financial services sector, travelling globally, before finishing his active career in the industry in 2004.

He currently enjoys the role of consultant and holds a number of non-executive directorships in IFSC investment companies.

He represented Wanderers up to 1975 where he won a Leinster League and Cup double in 1973. Upon moving to Greystones, where he has served as a player, captain, coach and president, he won the first of his 15 caps for Ireland, against Scotland in 1978.

After retiring from playing he remained active in the administration of the game at club and provincial level with Leinster. He has been part of the professional structures of the game in his home province and became manager of the Leinster team in August 2004, where he worked with Kidney. He has also worked as chairman of the Leinster professional team management committee.

The IRFU's chief executive Philip Browne said: "Paul brings a wealth of international experience to the management of the team and has a reputation that is held in the highest regard throughout the rugby and business communities."

Meanwhile Ulster have announced two signings to their squad, fullback/wing Clinton Schifcofske and lock Ed O'Donoghue, both formally of Queensland Reds, Australia. The pair have have signed two-year deals and will travel to Belfast in time for pre-season training in July.

Queensland native and former rugby league star Schifcofske (32), crossed codes at the end of 2006, following a 10-year career in league. He played for Australia A in the Pacific Nations Cup and lined out on 10 occasions in the Super 14.

Irish-qualified, O'Donoghue (25) played with Northampton Saints and Worcester Warriors before returning to Australia having secured a contract with the Reds.

The lock was born in London to Irish parents, grew up in Brisbane and earned a place on the Australian Under-19's squad.

He earned his first Super 14 start in 2007, going on to play all 13 games in the season.

Ulster coach Matt Williams enthused: "Clinton is a hugely respected figure in Australian rugby union and rugby league. He's an experienced captain and leader. Clinton is also a very high percentage goal kicker and a confident Super 14 player.

"Ed is a rare find. An experienced European player currently playing Super 14 and Irish qualified. He is great replacement for Justin Harrison at Ravenhill."