Advertisement We need your help now Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open. You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough. If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it. One-off amount I already contribute Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you. An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more. Investigates Investigates Money Diaries Daft.ie Property Magazine Allianz Home Magazine The 42 Sports Magazine The Journal TV Climate Crisis Cost of Living Road Safety Newsletters Temperature Check Inside the Newsroom The Journal Investigates The Explainer A deep dive into one big news story Sport meets news, current affairs, society & pop culture have your say Or create a free account to join the discussion Advertisement More Stories Connacht head coach Pete Wilkins.James Crombie/INPHO Pete Wilkins steps down as Connacht rugby head coach Colm Tucker will remain as interim head coach for the rest of the campaign. 9.05am, 16 Apr 2025 Share options CONNACHT RUGBY AND the IRFU have confirmed this morning that Pete Wilkins has taken the decision to step down as the province’s head coach with immediate effect. Colm Tucker will remain as interim head coach for the rest of the campaign, and the club will now begin the process of recruiting a new head coach for the 2025/26 season. Wilkins has held a variety of roles across his eight seasons at Connacht. He was defence coach for four seasons after his arrival in 2017, and in the 2021/22 campaign he moved to the role of senior coach with responsibility for attack. For the 2022/23 campaign he became head coach under Director of Rugby Andy Friend, and in that season helped guide the club to the semi-finals of the United Rugby Championship. In 2023 he was appointed head coach. Connacht Rugby and @IrishRugby can confirm Pete Wilkins has decided to step down as head coach with immediate effect. We sincerely thank Pete for his 8 years of dedication to rugby in Connacht, and wish him and his family every happiness in the future.https://t.co/NWgPIRPS5R pic.twitter.com/fT2QWxXeVh— Connacht Rugby (@connachtrugby) April 16, 2025 Wilkins has released the following statement today: “It is with a heavy heart that I am announcing my departure from Connacht Rugby – the club and province that I have been so proud to call home for the last eight years. “During this season, I have been having some very open and honest discussions about my future at the club. Although incredibly privileged to have been given the responsibility of leading the rugby programme here, the longer I have spent in the role, the further away I have found myself from the aspects of coaching not only that I most enjoy, but also that allow me to contribute most effectively to the team. “As such, I have made the decision that it is best for the club, myself, and most importantly my family, that I step away with immediate effect. In doing so, the club and I agree it gives our players, staff and supporters clarity for the remainder of the season, and myself the opportunity to focus on returning to full health before my next coaching challenge. “I am very grateful to all of the players that have worked so hard and been so eager to learn during this time, as well as the pro team staff who have given me such great support and friendship. To the wider staff of Connacht Rugby, the authenticity, pride, commitment and sense of humour that you bring to your work every day has always been an inspiration to me. Advertisement “To the Connacht supporters, it has been the most incredible privilege to have had this opportunity to be part of the Connacht Rugby family. This is a very special club, in an incredibly special part of the world. “Beyond rugby, Galway has become our family home, and Sarah, Harry, Oscar and I have been blessed with the friendships and care that the wonderful people of Barna and the wider province have offered us. “Connacht Abú.” Pete Wilkins.James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO Connacht CEO Willie Ruane has paid tribute to Wilkins. “Today is a sad day for everyone involved in Connacht Rugby. For the last 8 years Pete Wilkins has been a colleague and friend to us all, and someone that has always put his heart and soul into trying to make us better and helping us to achieve the type of success that we are all striving for. “In that time Pete has progressed from his initial role as defence coach to ultimately head coach of Connacht Rugby, and prior to his departure on sick leave, Pete had the second highest league win rate of any Connacht head coach in the professional era, and was the first in 15 years to achieve the number 1 seeding following the pool stages of the EPCR Challenge Cup. “Needless to say, whilst we are disappointed to see Pete leave, we fully respect and support his decision and we wish him, his wife Sarah and his two sons Harry and Oscar all the very best for the years ahead”. IRFU Performance Director David Humphreys said: “Pete has contributed an enormous amount to the growth of the game in Connacht, and Irish Rugby owes him a debt of gratitude for his dedication and commitment to the province. On behalf of the IRFU I would like to take the opportunity to thank Pete for his hard work over the last eight years and wish him and his family well in the future. “A quality coach and respected figure in Irish rugby, Pete can remember his time in Connacht with pride, and I hope that he will continue to progress his coaching career in the years to come.” Written by Fintan O’Toole and originally published on The 42 whose award-winning team produces original content that you won’t find anywhere else: on GAA, League of Ireland, women’s sport and boxing, as well as our game-changing rugby coverage, all with an Irish eye. Subscribe here. Viewcomments Send Tip or Correction Embed this post To embed this post, copy the code below on your site Email “Pete Wilkins steps down as Connacht rugby head coach”. Recipient's Email Feedback on “Pete Wilkins steps down as Connacht rugby head coach”. Your Feedback Your Email (optional) Report a Comment Please select the reason for reporting this comment. Please give full details of the problem with the comment... This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy before taking part. Leave a Comment Submit a report Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines. Damaging the good reputation of someone, slander, or libel. Racism or Hate speech An attack on an individual or group based on religion, race, gender, or beliefs. Trolling or Off-topic An attempt to derail the discussion. Inappropriate language Profanity, obscenity, vulgarity, or slurs. Advertising, phishing, scamming, bots, or repetitive posts. Please provide additional information Thank you for the feedback Your feedback has been sent to our team for review. Leave a commentcancel Newly created accounts can only comment using The Journal app. This is to add an extra layer of security to account creation. Download and sign into the app to continue. Access to the comments facility has been disabled for this user View our policy ⚠️ Duplicate comment Post Comment have your say Or create a free account to join the discussion Colm tucker Pete Wilkins News in 60 seconds Harvard Univesity Trump threatens to strip Harvard's tax-exempt status after freezing university's funding 11 mins ago Heli Hassle A change in the company managing the Coast Guard's rescue contract has been pushed back to 2026 22 mins ago british law UK Supreme Court rules that the term ‘woman’ does not legally include transgender women 45 mins ago The Daily Poll What is your favourite music streaming service? 55 mins ago HSE chief: Handling of care of Grace was 'abject failure, even by the standards of the 1990s' God’s architect Pope paves way to sainthood for Antoni Gaudí, architect of Barcelona's Sagrada Familia basilica German palliative care doctor charged with 15 murders using 'deadly cocktail of drugs' Gardaí open murder investigation into the fatal stabbing of a man in Youghal last night Conor McGregor hosts conservative American commentator Tucker Carlson in his Dublin pub Investigation Betsy Arakawa, Gene Hackman’s wife, researched illness symptoms days before her death Over €10 billion in Irish pharmaceutical products were exported to the US in February more from us Investigates Daft.ie Property Magazine Allianz Home Magazine The 42 Sports Magazine Money Diaries The Journal TV Journal Media Advertise With Us About FactCheck Our Network FactCheck Knowledge Bank Terms & Legal Notices Terms of Use Cookies & Privacy Advertising Competition more from us TV Listings GAA Fixtures The Video Review Journal Media Advertise With Us Our Network The Journal FactCheck Knowledge Bank Terms & Legal Notices Terms of Use Cookies & Privacy Advertising Competition © 2025 Journal Media Ltd Terms of Use Cookies & Privacy Advertising Competition Switch to Desktop Switch to Mobile The Journal supports the work of the Press Council of Ireland and the Office of the Press Ombudsman, and our staff operate within the Code of Practice. You can obtain a copy of the Code, or contact the Council, at https://www.presscouncil.ie, PH: (01) 6489130, Lo-Call 1800 208 080 or email: mailto:info@presscouncil.ie Report an error, omission or problem: Your Email (optional) Create Email Alert Create an email alert based on the current article Email Address One email every morning As soon as new articles come online