Elwood favourite for Connacht job

Eric Elwood is hot favourite to take over the Connacht coaching ticket after the news that Michael Bradley is stepping down at the end of the season.

The 40-year-old former Ireland fly-half was assistant to Bradley for the past five years and is a well-respected figure in his home province.

Elwood could call on Connacht's forwards coach Dan McFarland as his assistant.

The pair guided the Ireland U20 team to a Six Nations Grand Slam in 2007.

Elwood played 35 times for Ireland and represented Connacht 161 times, a record that is poised to be broken by current back-row forward Michael Swift who has played 160 times.

Bradley announced on Tuesday that he would step down after seven years in charge of the Galway-based side.

Gerry Kelly, the Connacht chief executive said the decision was announced at this time to allow the province ample time to install a replacement. He also said that Elwood was obviously in the frame.

"Eric has a very good coaching CV," he said. "He would be very acceptable in the Connacht region but we have a process to go through and all options will be considered."

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