Prendergast, From Young Munster To Grenoble

As his side prepares to face Munster in the opening game of the Kearys Renault Series at Thomond Park tomorrow, former Munster scrum-half and current Grenoble Backs Coach Mike Prendergast discusses how invaluable experience at AIL level paved the way for his successful transition into professional coaching.

Winning 48 caps for Munster across six seasons, even as a young player the Limerick native harboured ambitions of a career in coaching.

“Coaching first came into my mind when I started to get a few injuries including cruciate and shoulder injuries which came around the same time. I was only around 22 or 23 and missed the guts of two seasons so I wanted to throw my hand at something and coaching had always appealed to me.

“I was with Garryowen at the time, started with the thirds and progressed from there. When I went back to Young Munster I became an Assistant Coach while I was still playing and when I eventually finished up playing with Munster I moved up to Director of Rugby.

“It was the best foundation I could have had for my coaching career – to go back with a club. I remember ringing Declan Kidney at the time and getting his advice. The one thing he said to me was; as a Head Coach in a club you find out who’s doing what – from the bag man to all the different elements of the coaching team. My role as Director of Rugby was a full-time role and I was involved with everything from senior on the field activity to underage structures, seconds and thirds, etc.

“That wide experience gave me a wonderful start that I could build upon and for the last two of my four years as Director of Rugby I started coaching with Munster ‘A’ part-time – that helped me get my foot back into the professional set-up.”

With professional coaching jobs fewer and farther between in Ireland, when the opportunity presented itself, Prendergast made the move to France in a bid to further his career. However, it wasn’t to be totally unchartered territory for the Cookies clubman who previously spent two seasons playing with Bourgoin in the Top 14 (’06 to ’08).

“Munster ‘A’ gave me the springboard to move to France through Bernard Jackman (current Grenoble Head Coach) who had already been in France for a season. They (Grenoble) we’re looking for a Skills Coach at the time so I went over to meet with them twice, did a few sessions with them and thankfully they were happy enough to give me the role.

“Skills Coach is a good level to go in at. The pressure isn’t as intense as the Assistant Coach role and it allows you to settle into the environment. It also allowed me to build up my French, build up a relationship with the players and see how the organisation operated. The following season Bernard took over as the Head Coach and when our Backs Coach moved on I took up that role.”

The nature of the French club game has seen Prendergast broaden his horizons and progress as a coach, a progression that’s deep-rooted in his coaching experience in the Irish club game.

“Here in Grenoble alone we have eight different nationalities playing for us and from the point of view of a young coach I get to hear and learn from different philosophies and ways of approaching the game. You learn a lot from that and take the bits and pieces that suit the profile of your team

“It’s been a steady and nice progression, working my way up, but something that was only made possible by the wonderful start I got with Young Munster.

Earlier this month Prendergast previewed tomorrow night’s clash in Limerick. Read it here.

Munster v Grenoble, Kearys Renault Series, Friday August 14^th at Thomond Park – KO 7pm.

After the game, all spectators are invited to join the Munster players at a post-match BBQ in the Fan Zone Plaza where they will be on hand to sign autographs and pose for pictures. (Match ticket covers entry but not food.)

Tickets can be purchased online here, from the Munster Rugby Ticket Offices at Thomond Park and Irish Independent Park, or by calling 0818 719 300.