O'Gara open to England job but rules out leading Wales
The Guardian|December 10, 2024
Ronan O'Gara has declared his interest in taking a top international coaching role in the foreseeable future but will not be a contender for the Wales job should it fall vacant.
Robert Kitson

The ambitious coach is contracted to La Rochelle until 2027 but says he would be open to talking about a position with Ireland, England or France if the opportunity arose.

O'Gara, who won 128 caps for Ireland and represented the British & Irish Lions, has made no secret of his desire to try coaching at Test level, having steered La Rochelle to successive Champions Cup titles in 2022 and 2023. He has now revealed, however, that he would love to try one of the jobs currently held by Andy Farrell, Steve Borthwick and Fabien Galthié.

"There are Test jobs I'd bite people's hands off for," said the former Munster fly-half, whose La Rochelle side opened their latest Champions Cup campaign with a 24-20 away win against the Premiership leaders Bath on Friday night. "That usually works itself out if you're good enough at your club. You've got to have those ambitions, I think, because you want to be the best you can be."

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