Sawt Falasteen - Leinster boss Cullen to step down at end of next season

Cullen has been in charge of Leinster since 2015, leading the club to six United Rugby Championship titles, as well as the 2018 European Champions Cup.

However, Leinster have lost the European Champions Cup final four times in the past five years, including this season's defeat against Bordeaux in Bilbao.

The 48-year-old will remain at the helm until his contract expires at the end of the 2026-27 campaign, but the process of recruiting his replacement will begin immediately.

"By the end of next season in 2027, I will have been in my current job for 12 years. It'll also be 32 years since I first represented Leinster as a schools player, so, I think the timing will be right for me to move on to a new challenge," Cullen said.

"I managed 10 years as a player on different Leinster teams before moving to Leicester in 2005 and then returning to Leinster in 2007 to go on to experience some of the most amazing days imaginable."

The former Ireland second row added: "As many of you will know, I'm committed to Leinster up until the end of next season, and I intend to honour my contract, as I always have done."

F.AbuZaid--SF-PST