IRELAND interim head coach Simon Easterby insisted he is committed to the IRFU – despite being linked with the Wales job.
Easterby, 49, stepped up from defence coach to take charge of Ireland for this year as Andy Farrell departed briefly to lead the Lions.
But Farrell will return to his Ireland position next season, and Easterby – who has worked for the IRFU since 2014 – will revert to his assistant role.
That has led to speculation that Easterby could leave for Wales, where he lives, as the WRU look for a long-term successor for Warren Gatland who left last month.
But the Ireland interim head coach insisted there has been no contact.
He said: “I’m committed. I think when your name gets bandied around, that’s all it is, its just speculation.
“If I’d been contacted I’d tell you, but I haven’t.
So, that’s the way it is at the moment.
“I love what I do. I’m very fortunate and it (Wales) might be 15 minutes up the road.
“But I just feel very fortunate that I get the experiences I get to do this while Faz (Andy Farrell) is away.
“I get to work with great people and how important that is. I’m pretty happy where I am.”
