O’Gara linked to role with Crusaders
IS Ireland rugby great Ronan O’Gara bound for Christchurch?
A report in the Irish Examiner suggests he is, linking him strongly to the vacant assistant coaches role at the Crusaders.
The news outlet’s sources suggest Racing 92, the French club where O’Gara coaches, is braced for his exit, with the Crusaders reportedly offering a two-year contract.
There has been much talk about who Crusaders head coach Scott Robertson might nab to join the team he coached to a Super Rugby title in his first season in charge.
O’Gara, who writes columns for the Irish Examiner, declined to comment but the newspaper reported that an Irish Rugby Union source said there was a ‘‘99 per cent’’ chance the former Ireland first five-eighth would head to Christchurch.
He has been working with former Crusaders pivot Dan Carter in his current role at Racing 92 in Paris, and the prospect of helping to mould the career of Richie Mo’unga is sure to be enticing, as well as getting a taste for coaching at the top level in New Zealand.
In a recent Irish Examiner column, O’Gara wrote that he had a significant amount of learning to do as coach in different parts of the world before he felt he would be ready for a big head coaching gig.
Meanwhile, Rugby Australia will review the number of players on each Super Rugby roster, as it puts together a transition plan in place for the 2018 season.
RA wants to provide greater opportunity for former Western Force players to remain in Australian rugby following that franchise’s axing.
One of the Force’s best players, Wallabies hooker Tatafu PolotaNau, has switched to English club Leicester.
RA doesn’t anticipate the four remaining Australian teams making major increases in squad size and player salaries.
Under current player contracting rules, Australian Super Rugby teams are subject to a $5 million salary cap across their 30-man core playing squad.
‘‘Collectively across Rugby Australia, RUPA and the four Super Rugby teams we are developing a transition plan for 2018 to assist us to keep our best talent in Australian rugby,’’ RA general manager high performance Ben Whitaker said. - with AAP