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FORMER Wales coach Mike Ruddock has ruled himself out of the running for the vacant Ireland job.

Ruddock, currently director of rugby at Guinness Premiership side Worcester Warriors, has been linked with the post following the departure of Eddie O'Sullivan, who resigned on Wednesday after six-and-a-half years in charge.

O'Sullivan had come under increasing pressure after Ireland's poor showing at the Six Nations and last year's World Cup.

Former Ebbw Vale and Newport Gwent Dragons coach Ruddock was a huge success with Wales, winning the 2005 Grand Slam before departing in controversial circumstances the following year.

He is a popular figure in Ireland from his time as director of coaching at Leinster from 1997 to 2000 and his wife Bernadette is Irish.

But Ruddock says he is happy at Worcester and intends seeing out the remaining two years on his contract.

He said: "I am contracted with Worcester Warriors and am thoroughly enjoying myself in the Guinness Premiership. I have another two years left on my contract and I'd like to see that job through if I could."

But he says he could be tempted to return to Ireland in the future: "I would be flattered to be linked with the post, that's for sure. I have got a huge regard for Irish rugby. At some stage in the future it would be great to get back to Ireland. I love Ireland and love working with the people there.

"In the future, at some stage, if the Irish Rugby Union consider me as an option for the national team, that would be fantastic."

Ireland finished fourth in this month's Six Nations and failed to reach the knock-out stages of the World Cup.

Ruddock said: "I have got a huge regard for Eddie O'Sullivan. If you look at his record as Ireland coach, it is mightily impressive and I guess it's a sad day.

"Unfortunately, that's the life of the modern professional coach. You are judged on results and you are only as good as your last game. Unfortunately, the last year hasn't been as good as Eddie would have liked.

"Eddie will be a very proud man. He needs to walk tall, hold his head up high because his record as a coach is quite spectacular really in terms of the amount of games he has won as a coach at international level and three Triple Crowns."

10:15am Saturday 22nd March 2008

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