By Rob Murphy @ Knockon.ie
June 2 2011

It was announced today that Connacht’s Australian backs coach Brian Melrose is leaving the province to take up a player development role with London Irish with immediate effect.

http://www.knockon.ie/?p=6370#more-6370

Head coach Eric Elwood is now left with the unwanted challenge of finding a replacement before the start of the pre-season at the end of this month.

“It’s disappointing to lose Brian after just one season.” said the former Irish out half. “We took a phone call on it last week, Brian just informed us that for personal reasons, he felt it was the right move.”

Melrose joined Connacht at the start of last season and formed part of a new look and experienced back room team as Elwood embarked on his first year in the main seat. His loss will be a blow to the management’s plans for the forthcoming season and came as a surprise.

“He had signed a deal with us before he left but you can’t stand in the way of someone if they want to move and there wasn’t much we could do. At that point he couldn’t tell us where he was going but we see today that it is London Irish.”

Connacht are still very much on the hunt for an inside centre to complete their squad for the new seasons which will be marked by their Heineken Cup debut.

“Obviously it’s not ideal having to look for a replacement three weeks before we return for the pre-season program,” Added Elwood, “but we began the process last week and have had applicants already.

“Now that it is public there will be more people interested and we will look at the candidates in the coming days and weeks with a view to having a replacement in place as soon as possible.”

Elwood Disappointed at Melrose Loss

Discussion started by Connacht Rugby Supporters (IP Logged), 02/06/2011 23:35

Connacht Rugby Supporters
02/06/2011 23:35

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ga1wegian
02/06/2011 15:43

This is a big loss - Brian Melrose leaving Connacht

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diom
02/06/2011 15:51

Crap... the backline had a good refresh under him. Wonder where he's going/what happened.

EDIT:: Gone to London Irish as their "Elite Player Performance Manager" according to RTE.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011:06:02:15:59:17 by diom.

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lgwt@castlebar
02/06/2011 16:15

He did a good job and I'm sorry to see him go. Must be the un-Australian weather. LI's gain for sure.

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RonanL
02/06/2011 16:40

It's not like our backs have been setting the world alight either - maybe it's a split by mutual consent.

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ummm,
02/06/2011 17:25

Balls.

Strange that the noises coming out of the CB was that he preferred staying in Galway rather than applying for the Edinburgh job.

Another press release sent out before anything was signed?

Edit: I take it back. According to the connacht site and the IRFU site Melrose wasn't offered a new contract.

Cash saving? Or is someone coming in? Or are they going to try to use that cash and whatever's left for a new centre to really push to boat out?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011:06:02:18:40:46 by ummm,.

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ga1wegian
02/06/2011 18:57

Eric is disappointed - knockon.ie

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al omaniya
03/06/2011 09:10

Eddie O'Sullivan as a replacement anyone?

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lgwt@castlebar
03/06/2011 10:15

Eddie is not a team player IMO. Unless he's mellowed I think Eric would find him impossible to deal with. Plus I doubt he'd come cheap.

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porterbelly
03/06/2011 11:04

I'd love to get Eddie on board. I think he's wasted in the US. He's a quality coach. However, I can't see him wanting to sit in the background as backs coach. As well as this, in Eddie's autobiography he says he didn't always see eye to eye with Elwood when he was coaching Connacht.

Who knows though. I for one think we should go after Eddie. He's vastly experienced and could bring alot to the table

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Sea_point
03/06/2011 12:19

Quote:

lgwt@castlebar
Eddie is not a team player IMO. Unless he's mellowed I think Eric would find him impossible to deal with. Plus I doubt he'd come cheap.

Wouldn't want that machevellian feck anywhere near our squad, the width of the atlantic is just about far enough away tbh...

===============================================
I see the future, and it's Green again...

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conjob
03/06/2011 13:01

Eos in a support role to ee is pure fantasy, neither man would go near that set up.

Eric would e undermined and eps would diminish his reputation as a head coach and undermine his earning power.

While I have not been overly impressed with our back play last season bar the first few games it does suggest a lack of belief in the set up.

I would like to see someone local and committed appointed, someone who could form part of a long term plan like Eric and Dan but I can't think of who might fit the bill.

If this was a few years down the line someone like Gavin Duffy who has proven their Connacht credentials.

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ummm,
03/06/2011 15:27

Quote:

Sea_Point
Wouldn't want that machevellian feck anywhere near our squad, the width of the atlantic is just about far enough away tbh...

Get off the fence and tell us what you really think, FFS

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Sea_point
03/06/2011 17:13

Quote:

ummm,

Quote:

Sea_Point
Wouldn't want that machevellian feck anywhere near our squad, the width of the atlantic is just about far enough away tbh...

Get off the fence and tell us what you really think, FFS

And his mother was a hamster and he smells of elderberries...

video: [url][/url]

===============================================
I see the future, and it's Green again...

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keyboard
03/06/2011 17:55

Unfortunate time to lose Melrose. While he's entitled to make decisions in his own best interest, it's a pity he didn't honour his committment to connacht. Leaving now makes it very difficult for us to get a good replacement at short notice. While EE can undoubtedly do the job himself I think he's better to leave the backs coaching to someone else. He can the be a little bit more objective in assessing the progress of the back play. Sometimes he suffers a little from micromanaging the coaching and the players.

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Borders no.2
05/06/2011 01:05

Certainly worrying news, coming a month after the season has ended. Best of luck to him. I'm as happy he is moving on though if he wants to go. Don't want another Bradley like situation where another contract with Connacht is the backup if all else falls through.

We'll need a good replacement especially considering the limited options in terms of personnel we'll have in the backline next season we'll have to get the maximum from every player in the backs.

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big hit
12/06/2011 17:09

Heard that he had signed his contract and even shook eric's hand,and then decided to go to Irish. Also heard that he wasn't really liked by the squad anyway!!

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The IMF
04/07/2011 22:57

Have we got a replacement for Mr Melrose does anyone know?

Has Eric taken on the role???

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