Andrew Goodman: Ireland chance too good to pass up

Andrew Goodman says leaving Leinster was a "tough" decision but the opportunity to move the next level of coaching was too good to pass up.

The New Zealander will take over from Mike Catt as Ireland's attack coach at the end of the season having spent the last two years with the four-time European champions.

The IRFU announced last month that the 41-year-old, who made 17 Leinster appearances between 2012 and 2014, would take over from Catt, who joined Andy Farrell’s set-up in 2020.

Farrell will name his Six Nations training squad this afternoon.

"It’s something that’s very exciting and a great honour for myself," Goodman, who joined the Samoa backroom team at the last World Cup, told RTÉ Sport.

"It’s a wee bit away and it’s an exciting thing to happen in the future, really looking forward to the opportunity.

"In terms of [how it comes about], generally catching up, conversations really.

"Hopefully I’ve worked hard for it. It wasn’t anything special, just a conversation really and we took it from there.

"It is a tough decision in one sense because I’ve absolutely loved my time here at Leinster, I’m into my second year and settling in.

"I know everyone really well so to be leaving was a hard thing to have to comprehend really.

"After getting my feet under the table and really enjoying myself there but the opportunity to go to the next level and test myself there is something I’m hugely excited about as well.

"It’s a great honour for myself and I’m looking forward to it."

Leinster complete their Investec Champions Cup Pool 4 campaign against Leicester on Saturday.

They assured qualification to the last 16 with a 43-7 rout of Stade Francais, who opted against sending a full-strength side to Dublin last weekend.

Asked how much can be taken