I STILL HAVE JOB TO DO HERE
Racing 92-bound Lancaster insists it’s business as usual & all he wants is to win trophies with Blues
STUART Lancaster insists that his summer departure to Racing 92 will have no impact on his final season
with Leinster.
There were plenty of Munster fans scratching their heads as to why Johann van Graan and Stephen Larkham were left to call the shots after their end of
season exits were announced less than halfway through the last campaign. But Lancaster maintains it will be business as usual as he continues to work with Leo Cullen (inset) to put Leinster back on top of the pile after a trophyless season last time out.
The 52-year-old acknowledges that he will have to be involved in decision-making for Racing ahead of his arrival on a fouryear deal midway through 2023.
But he stressed: “It will have no bearing because the only thing I want to do is win with Leinster. There’s absolutely no doubt in my mind.
“We obviously came up just short last year in Europe – heartit breakingly in the last play of the final – and with the final being in Dublin as well (next May), plus the URC disappointment we had last season, there’s absolutely no doubt in my mind where my loyalty will be.
“I mean, Felipe (Contepomi) left last year and he could easily have been distracted by the Argentinian involvement in the Rugby Championship coming up, but you didn’t notice it all. And you’ll never see it with me either.
“Yes, there’s bits and pieces to do but a lot of it is done, to be honest. A lot of the recruitment happens in
France a lot earlier than it does elsewhere, and
Racing have got a great academy actually.
“They’ve got some good players coming through. But there would be more of a recruitment focus than there is at Leinster and part of the reason is that they want to get to the point where they are now because they need to put someone’s name as the head coach so that they can then recruit around it. .
“Is it the seven year itch? I don’t think it is, but I don’t think will do Leinster any harm to have a different voice either.”
Lancaster explained that he didn’t want to have any regrets at the end of his career, which is why he has decided to leave the comfort of an environment he still loves to become a head coach for the first time since his time with England ended in ignominy.
“The opportunity Leinster gave me back in 2016 and what has resulted from that has really made me the coach I am really,” said Lancaster, who spoke after training yesterday afternoon.
“When Leo rang and I first took that Leeds-dublin flight, I remember realising it was commutable and I only signed for that season. “I have never once sat in the airport in Leeds-bradford and thought, ‘I don’t want to get on this plane’.
“I’ve always wanted to come. I’ve always wanted to coach the players. That’s what makes it such a hard place to leave because you have got such good people, good values, great academy, great former players who I have coached. Yeah, it was tough telling the players today.”