Interim Ireland head coach Paul O'Connell has finalized his coaching team for the upcoming summer Tests in Georgia and Portugal. The team includes Denis Leamy, Mike Prendergast, and Colm Tucker, who will assist O'Connell in preparing the squad for these crucial matches.

Denis Leamy, who has been Munster's defence coach since 2022, brings a wealth of experience to the team. Mike Prendergast, Munster's attack coach for the past three seasons, recently led Ireland 'A' in a match against England. Colm Tucker, Connacht's scrum coach, stepped in as head coach during a recent United Rugby Championship loss to Munster while Pete Wilkins was on sick leave.

All three coaches will join the Ireland squad at the end of the club season, with the squad announcement expected in mid-June. Ireland will face Georgia in Tbilisi on 5 July (18:00 BST) and Portugal in Lisbon on 12 July (time TBC).

O'Connell, a former Ireland and British and Irish Lions captain, took over as interim boss after Simon Easterby was appointed to Lions head coach Andy Farrell's backroom team. Ireland scrum coach John Fogarty and attack coach Andrew Goodman are also part of Farrell's Lions team.

In a statement, O'Connell expressed his honour in accepting the position: "With a busy schedule of international rugby this summer, these two Tests will provide us with further opportunities to assess and develop the competition levels within the squad." He added, "I am excited to work with a coaching team who I know well individually and are hugely motivated to deliver success to Ireland and look forward to putting our plans in place over the coming weeks."

David Humphreys, Irish Rugby Football Union performance director, highlighted the significance of this appointment in O'Connell's coaching career: "He will be assisted by Denis, Mike and Cullie who have all been in Ireland camp at different points over the last number of months and their selections is another positive progression in their coaching careers and reasserts the IRFU's commitment to developing a pathway for Irish coaches."