Leinster manager Leo Cullen praised Union Bordeaux-Begles attack coach Noel McNamara on Saturday during an interview with Rugbyrama ahead of the Champions Cup final in Bilbao.
Cullen highlighted McNamara's extensive career within the Irish rugby development system.
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He noted McNamara's progression from a school teacher to running the Leinster academy and developing young talent.
Despite a close personal friendship that included a family dinner in November, Cullen emphasized that Leinster remains fully concentrated on the entire Bordeaux squad rather than just their former colleague.
"Noel, I know him very well. What he has accomplished is quite incredible.
He was part of Leinster for a long time. At the time, he wanted to finish his studies and continue teaching.
Then he took the plunge. He started running the academy, and he played a big part in building young Leinster players.
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Now meeting him again, with Bordeaux, in the Champions Cup final, is inevitably special. It's also a human adventure.
In November, he invited me to his home, with my son and my father, for dinner. His family has always supported Leinster.
But we haven't focused solely on him. We know what he represents, what he knows about us, but the subject remains Bordeaux.
And Bordeaux is a very high-level team," Cullen said.
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Leinster and Bordeaux will face off in the Champions Cup final on Saturday.
