'We've given it no thought' - Munster 'hit pause' on head coach recruitment process

Munster's interim head coach Ian Costello says the province are yet to start the process of recruiting a replacement for Graham Rowntree, who left his role as head coach on Tuesday.

The province parted company with the Englishman earlier this week, just six games into the season, with a statement saying his departure was by "mutual agreement".

Costello has been placed in temporary charge and he, along with the Munster’s professional games committee and the IRFU, will be involved in the process to hire a new head coach.

However, that process is yet to begin, with their attention currently set on this Saturday’s meeting with an All Blacks XV at Thomond Park.

"We’ve hit pause on that. That process will start in due course. We’ll take our time," Costello (below) told RTÉ Sport.

"We just had so much to deal with the last couple of days and we wanted to make sure to manage that the best way we could, to manage staff, players, and we focused on that.

"In parallel with that, we had to prepare for the weekend.

"The key will be the right person, the right fit, and at the moment we’re lucky enough that there is some quality staff there, coaches and support staff.

"Stability and consistency will be key going forward. That’s our main focus, and we’ll look at the rest after the game on Saturday. We’ll literally start those conversations on Saturday."

In the days since Rowntree’s departure several names have been linked with the role.

It has been reported by Rugbypass that the province’s attack coach Mike Prendergast is on course to be appointed, while others have called for Munster to headhunt their former full-back and assistant Felix Jones, who is still on the payroll at the RFU until the summer.

"I’m not trying to deflect, we’ve given it no