Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Sweet chariot, coming for to carry me AWAY
ENGLISH TALKS WITH ROG OVER MOVE
RONAN O’GARA has had initial talks about the €875,000-perannum England Head Coach job — and admits he is interested.
There was no indication as to whether the RFU were compiling a shortlist, or as to how many people they had sounded out.
Others believed to have been approached include Steve Borthwick, Rob Baxter, Scott Robertson, Warren Gatland, Andy Farrell and Rassie Erasmus.
“I don’t know about a shortlist, but I’ve spoken to a few people,” said O’gara.
“I suppose it (the job) is a possibility but I don’t know where I am in the pecking order.
“I think they have a serious squad of players, it’s something that may be exciting, they are a team that can win a World Cup, every World Cup cycle.
“They are exactly the jobs you look for because you want to test yourself at the highest level.”
Certainly the presence of Farrell among those sounded out leaves the intriguing possibility that, were Farrell to move to England O’gara would, in turn, be a very strong candidate for the Ireland job.
The current La Rochelle boss wants to coach internationally at some point: “Of course, and to be honest with you I’m the first year into head coach at La Rochelle and winning a European Cup final, that’s the stuff of dreams.
“But you want to probably have a very, very good reason to leave. I don’t have that.”
As it stands, La Rochelle have made it clear they want to keep their man. Although they would not be able to match the RFU’S €875k package and would be short of the IRFU’S €450k too.
As for his own situation in club rugby, the France-based O’gara may be about to face into a fourth TOP14 touchline ban in 12 months.
There was a two-week ban in November 2021, a six-week ban in early September 2022 and he is currently serving a six-week ban.
And while he is unable to speak about his latest controversy — a 10-week French league (LNR) suspension for “harming the best interests of rugby” announced yesterday — he is considering his options and may appeal.
So while he is very happy at La Rochelle: “Yeah, there has been talks of a new deal, so it’s all good.
There is another side to the coin: “The negatives are the disappointment of being cited and receiving a heavy ban. It’s never a dull moment but that comes with my territory.”