LEO CULLEN will make the seamless transition from Leinster club captain to forwards coach from next summer.

This was a move mooted when the incumbent Jono Gibbes decided to accept an offer from Clermont Auvergne, leaving a natural role for Cullen.

"Leo's demonstrated that he's certainly got the knowledge," coach Matt O'Connor confirmed yesterday.

"When you sit down and have the conversation with him, the genuine excitement and student of the game that he is, you know he will thrive in the environment.

"Leo's been an unbelievable leader for the organisation on and off the field. I think, given that Jono is moving off to Clermont, it was the natural progression for Leo. He's got all that knowledge, he understands what's required at the very top level and I'm really looking forward to working with him.

"You don't have to talk to people for too long to understand whether they'll be able to do it or not."

Like Anthony Foley at Munster, this has all the hallmarks of the start of a move from player to head coach for Cullen and the possibility that he may eventually succeed O'Connor.

Leader

"Yeah, potentially," said O'Connor. "It's a little bit hard to ascertain at this stage. He's certainly a leader and he's got vast rugby knowledge and experience.

"I wouldn't doubt that he'd be a very good head coach, but it's just about how the thing twists and turns, how long he wants to be in the game."

The intelligent second row has survived where others would have wilted as a veteran, who will turn 36 on January 9.

There was a time when he found it difficult to accept his place in Irish rugby behind Paul O'Connell and Donncha O'Callaghan and even Mick O'Driscoll at times.

He played 32 times for Ireland, making his final appearance as captain against Russia in September 2011 at the Rugby World Cup.

It is as Leinster captain that he has made his true mark.

He has played 205 times for the province, so far, and is the only captain to lift the Heineken Cup three times.