Overview
- Leo Cullen announced on Monday that he will step down when his contract expires at the end of the 2026/27 season and will remain in charge for that campaign.
- Leinster Rugby said it has begun a formal recruitment process in collaboration with the Irish Rugby Football Union to appoint the next head coach.
- Cullen and his current coaching team, including senior coach Jacques Nienaber, will continue preparations for 2026/27 and stay in their roles until June 2027.
- The decision follows a season that saw Leinster defend their United Rugby Championship title with a 36-7 win over the Bulls and suffer a Champions Cup final defeat to Bordeaux in May.
- Cullen’s long association with the province and his trophy record leave a clear legacy, and the early announcement creates time for an orderly handover while prompting media speculation about successors and possible wider moves in the coaching market.