Munster’s incoming chief executive seeks Peter O’Mahony’s input before taking charge

Munster’s incoming interim chief executive Avan Lee said at a media briefing on Wednesday, 7 October, that he had contacted former captain Peter O’Mahony and former player Donncha O’Callaghan before starting the job on 21 October. The conversations are part of his effort to understand the province’s challenges, but he has announced no role for either former player and has yet to see an independent review of its governance.

Lee’s approach gives former players a potential voice as Munster prepares for a change in leadership. Speaking to reporters, he described connections with past players as critical and said O’Mahony had much to offer. He also made clear that any formal involvement would depend on what O’Mahony wanted; his remarks were an invitation to talk, not an appointment.

What Avan Lee said about Peter O’Mahony

Lee told RTÉ Sport that he had already connected with O’Mahony and O’Callaghan. He said he would have contacted O’Mahony even if the former captain had not made critical comments about Munster during the preceding week. Lee called O’Mahony a natural person to ask what being part of Munster means to him and what he wants the province to become.

On the possibility of a continuing role, Lee said it would be a shame if there were none for O’Mahony ‘in some capacity’, should he want one. The condition matters: neither report describes an offer, an agreed position or O’Mahony’s response to that suggestion. For now, Lee has confirmed contact and an interest in hearing his views.

Munster’s governance review and Lee’s priorities

An independent governance review is expected to be delivered within two weeks of RTÉ’s 7 October report. Lee said he had not seen a word of it and did not know what it would find. He therefore declined to set out specific changes based on its contents. The review’s findings and recommendations remain an important unknown as he prepares to take charge.

Lee said he wanted a ‘non-financial audit’ of Munster’s systems and structure, asking whether the organisation was performing well and working toward shared goals. He said media reports had alerted him to challenges, but that he needed to work through the issues himself with the IRFU and Munster Rugby board. His assessment of the organisation is preliminary because he has not yet started the job.

He also described a perceived disconnect between the rugby operation and the business side. Bringing those parts of the province into closer alignment is one of the aims he identified. In his briefing, reported by The Irish Times, he also discussed recruitment, player pathways, the development of players over several years and commercial revenue. He said he did not yet know the detail of Munster’s revenue profile.

Lee told The Irish Times he wanted to bring Munster’s community and supporters behind the organisation and its teams. He cautioned that he could not yet give detailed answers about how to do that. His first task, on the account he gave, is to learn from people inside and around the province before deciding what should change.

Lee’s rugby experience and what remains open

Lee brings experience from New Zealand rugby. RTÉ reported that he led the Hurricanes in Super Rugby from 2015 to 2025 and had previously worked for New Zealand Rugby and World Rugby. He told The Irish Times that he had a strong connection with Ireland, where the paper said he had lived during two spells. His previous work gives him a rugby administration background, but his plans for Munster still depend on what he learns after arriving.

The next concrete steps are Lee’s start on 21 October and the expected delivery of the governance review. Until its findings are known, there is no stated programme of changes arising from it. Lee has expressed interest in O’Mahony’s input, but whether that conversation leads to any formal role is also unresolved. For Munster’s players, staff and supporters, those decisions will show how his stated priorities translate into action.