'Just make it happen' - Bernard Jackman calls on Munster to go all out in quest to land Felix Jones

Bernard Jackman and Johne Murphy believe Munster should go all out to attract Felix Jones to become their new head coach.

The province are looking for their fourth new head coach in eight years, following the sudden departure of Graham Rowntree yesterday.

Director of rugby operations Ian Costello will take charge on an interim basis, starting with Saturday's exhibition against an All Blacks XV at Thomond Park.

Costello could be among the contenders to take over permanently, but much of the clamour would be for the province to headhunt their former full-back Jones, who began his coaching career at Munster following his injury-enforced retirement in 2016.

Jones departed Munster in 2019 before joining Rassie Erasmus’ coaching team at South Africa, helping the Springboks win back-to-back Rugby World Cups, before moving to England at the start of 2024.

The 37-year-old handed in his resignation as England’s defence coach in the summer, just over eight months after starting the position, but will seemingly have to honour his contract with the RFU, for whom he is doing remote analysis work.

"I expect Felix to be doing exactly what we've arranged for him to do," England Steve Borthwick said yesterday when asked if Jones could join Munster in the coming month.

Speaking on this week’s RTÉ Rugby podcast, both Jackman and Murphy believed Jones has to be at the top of Munster’s list.

"I think he’d be a great choice," Jackman said.

With the RFU playing hardball with his contract, Munster will likely have to pay compensation to get their former full-back into the role.

But Jackman says they have to make it happen.

"The whole thing around 'is it realistic?' This is the problem now, where Munster and the IRFU have left the provinces. We have such a