Former Ireland rugby coach Eddie O'Sullivan will be coaching in the Ulster Bank League until the end of April.

Old Belvedere, who currently lie in 7th position in the league, announced the news on social media on Saturday evening.

📢Announcement📢@TheRealEddieOS will join the coaching team from now until the end of the season. pic.twitter.com/ckwrHW2R0o — Old Belvedere RFC (@OldBelvedereRFC) February 4, 2017

O'Sullivan has been a weekly guest on Newstalk's Off the Ball show and last week his appearance on the show around the same time as former Irish soccer manager Brian Kerr seemed somewhat apt - for while O'Sullivan and Kerr are excellent pundits and analysts of their respective codes, they are even better coaches and undoubtedly belong inside, rather than outside, the game.

O'Sullivan followed his seven-year stint coaching Ireland by leading the USA to the World Cup in 2011 - memorably playing Ireland in their opening game - before an ill-fated spell in France at Biarritz ended after just over a season.


O'Sullivan spoke on the show earlier this year about not being approached for the vacant Connacht rugby position despite knowing Irish rugby inside out and as much as issued a 'come and get me' plea while honestly expressing his uncertainty at his position in Irish rugby.

I've never given up on Irish rugby, maybe it has given up on me. The last time I applied for the Connacht job, I didn't get an interview. I don't know where that leaves me with Connacht. I suppose we'll have to wait and see, maybe they will look overseas. It's in my back door, I'm living 25 minutes from Galway.

It will be interesting to see how he gets on with Old Belvedere. It's certainly a great coup for the Dublin side.

But Connacht fans might be expressing curiosity as to why O'Sullivan hasn't been considered for even a background role at the Sportsground when he is so obviously available.