Pete Wilkins Steps Down As Connacht Rugby Head Coach With Immediate Effect
Pete Wilkins Steps Down As Connacht Rugby Head Coach With Immediate Effect
Connacht Rugby head coach Pete Wilkins has stepped down with immediate effect to prioritize his health and his family.

Connacht Rugby head coach Pete Wilkins has announced his immediate departure from the club, bringing an end to an eight-year tenure that spanned multiple coaching roles and culminated in a semifinal appearance in the United Rugby Championship.
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In a statement released Tuesday, Wilkins cited personal reflection and a desire to prioritize his health and family as the primary reasons behind his decision.
“It is with a heavy heart that I am announcing my departure from Connacht Rugby – the club and province that I have been so proud to call home for the last eight years,” Wilkins said. “The longer I have spent in the role, the further away I have found myself from the aspects of coaching, not only that I most enjoy, but also that allow me to contribute most effectively to the team.”
Wilkins, who first joined Connacht in 2017 as a defense coach, gradually rose through the ranks to become head coach in 2023. He played a key role in guiding the team to the URC semifinals during the 2022-2023 season and held the second-highest league win rate of any Connacht coach in the professional era.
Connacht CEO Willie Ruane paid tribute to Wilkins’ enduring impact and professional legacy.
“Today is a sad day for everyone involved in Connacht Rugby,” Ruane said. “Pete has always put his heart and soul into trying to make us better. He’s been a colleague, a leader, and most importantly, a friend.”
Wilkins’ decision follows a period of medical leave earlier this year.
In his statement, he emphasized the importance of clarity for the team moving forward and expressed deep gratitude to players, staff, supporters and the Galway community.
“Connacht supporters, it has been the most incredible privilege to have had this opportunity to be part of the Connacht Rugby family,” Wilkins said. “This is a very special club, in an incredibly special part of the world.”
Irish Rugby Football Union Performance Director David Humphreys echoed the praise for Wilkins, highlighting his broader contributions to the game in Ireland.
“Pete has contributed an enormous amount to the growth of the game in Connacht,” Humphreys said. “A quality coach and respected figure in Irish rugby, Pete can remember his time in Connacht with pride.”
Over the course of his time with Connacht, Wilkins transitioned from defense coach to senior coach responsible for attack in 2021 and then to head coach under director of rugby Andy Friend in 2022. His leadership helped secure top seeding in the EPCR Challenge Cup pool stages for the first time in 15 years.
Connacht has announced that Cullie Tucker will serve as interim head coach for the remainder of the season. The search for a permanent replacement for the 2025-2026 campaign is underway.
Wilkins concluded his statement with a heartfelt farewell: “Galway has become our family home… Connacht Abú.”
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