Mossy Lawler agrees new Munster deal and backs Mike Prendergast for head coach job

Munster assistant coach Mossy Lawler is backing his colleague Mike Prendergast to become the province's next head coach.

Lawler is the latest Munster assistant to sign his name to a new contract, with the skills coach agreeing a new two-year deal, following on from Prendergast and Denis Leamy, who confirmed their extensions in recent weeks.

Prendergast is signed on as attack coach for the next two seasons, but confirmed last week that he has applied to become the next permanent head coach, which the Munster board and the IRFU are currently recruiting for following Graham Rowntree’s departure in October.

The former Munster wing believes his old team-mate is the man for the job.

"It is what he wants. He said that publicly last week when he said his name was in the hat, so I fully endorse it if it was something that came to fruition," Lawler said this afternoon.

"As a friend and as a working colleague, that is with him side by side every day, I don’t see why not."

Lawler, who spent seven years playing with Munster, cut his teeth in the coaching world at Connacht, initially with their academy before moving onto the senior coaching ticket in 2021.

The 44-year-old from Limerick, who returned to his home province in 2023, says he sees similarities between Prendergast and his former Connacht head coach Andy Friend.

"When you look at both of them together, that personality is the biggest thing that shines out amongst the two of them.

"The biggest thing I took from Andy is how he sets up his organisation. The relationships he builds and the care he gives amongst his staff and players was second to none and Mike has all those attributes as well.

"His personality shines through in relation to how he coaches on and off the field and the care