Bradley lands top role at Edinburgh
By Hugh Farrelly
Tuesday May 03 2011
Michael Bradley is back in professional coaching after landing the director of rugby role at Edinburgh.
It is understood that the ex-Connacht coach has secured the position on a two-year deal following the resignation of Rob Moffat earlier this year.
Bradley coached Connacht for seven years, winning the Celtic Rugby Chairman's Award at the end of last season before deciding to move on, with his assistant Eric Elwood taking over the head coach's role.
He has since been helping out with Georgia and with Midleton in the All-Ireland League, but the Edinburgh role marks a return to full-time professional coaching.
Bradley, a former Ireland captain who won 40 caps at scrum-half, has coached Ireland 'A' and was interim senior coach on the 2008 summer tour before Declan Kidney took full control.
Front-runner
Former Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan was a front-runner for the Edinburgh position but was ruled out over the weekend.
His commitment to the US Eagles for the World Cup is believed to have been a factor in Edinburgh deciding to look elsewhere.
Other candidates in the running were Munster's departing forwards coach Laurie Fisher and former Wasps director of rugby Tony Hanks.
Meanwhile, there was relief in Leinster yesterday after no player was cited following their Heineken Cup semi-final victory over Toulouse on Saturday and there are also no injury worries.
There had been fears that flanker Sean O'Brien would have a case to answer after clashing with Toulouse counterpart Yannick Nyanga who held back the Tullow man as he was attempting to prevent Louis Picamoles' second-half try.
Elsewhere, reports in Australia claim new Brumbies coach Jake White has targeted Ulster's Ruan Pienaar as one of his big-name signings. The South African joined Ulster at the start of the season on a two-year deal.
- Hugh Farrelly
