Ireland: Another one bites the dust
by RivalsDM
Sources in Ireland and Australia have said the likeable and well respected former Wallaby centre and Leicester coach has ruled himself out of the equation.
Howard was installed as the bookies' favourite to succeed O'Sullivan, who resigned last Wednesday.
Howard, who quit the Tigers after guiding them to a Premiership and EDF Energy Cup double last season, is currently employed as the manager of the Australian Rugby Football Union's high performance unit.
The 34-year-old is reportedly poised to step down from the post in order to spend more time with his family, dampening prospects of a move to Lansdowne Road.
* Meanwhile, Leinster coach Michael Cheika has ruled himself out of the running for the vacant Ireland coaching position.
"I'm with Leinster," Cheika said.
"I've just signed a two year contract with my club and with this team here and I'm about this team here and my players here and helping them get to play for Ireland.
"All I can say is that whoever gets it, we'll do all we can to make sure that they go good!"
* The third person to have ruled himself out is South Africa's World Cup-winning coach Jake White, who has reiterated his desire to coach England, and only England.
White said on Friday that he has no interest in becoming O'Sullivan's replacement at the helm of Ireland.
"I've made no secret of the fact that the [England] job has always appealed to me," White said.
* Western Force coach John Mitchell's management has also quashed speculation that the former New Zealand mentor is in the running for the vacant Ireland coaching job.
The Irish Times newspaper has speculated on a number of possible replacements for the departed Eddie O'Sullivan, including Mitchell, Howard, White and ex-Australia backs coach Alan Gaffney, although Munster coach Declan Kidney appears to be the favourite.
Mitchell's manager John Fordham said he had had no discussions with his client about the Ireland position. Fordham pointed out that Mitchell had extended his contract with the Force last year, which will see him in Perth until the end of 2011.
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