Kieran Keane Happy with Connacht Chemistry

Kieran Keane has just arrived in Galway, Ireland to take up his new post as Connacht coach, replacing fellow New Zealander Pat Lam who has moved on to a role with Bristol.

Known as a slightly eccentric character from his time in New Zealand rugby, Keane earned the moniker ‘The Mad Professor’ because of his tendency to think deeply about the game. He says he becomes enveloped, and cannot stop dissecting his opponents and scheming for his team.

“The unfortunate thing for myself is that I dream about rugby. I dream about it when I’m awake and when I’m asleep,” he said.

“I’m a terribly competitive human at the best of times, but I don’t think it would be interesting to talk about what I think [we can accomplish], ‘can we do this and can we do that’.

“We can do anything, we’re just going to do whatever we can. We are going to get better every day. We are going to enjoy each other’s company and we are going to grow off the pitch and on the pitch and that’s going to be good.”

Christchurch-born Keane, 63, represented Canterbury at a provincial level, and was a member of the the All Blacks in 1979.

Original article by Declan Rooney, Irish Examiner, August 16, 2017.