Ronan O'Gara has expressed his desire to secure a prominent international coaching position in the near future, but he has ruled out any interest in the Wales job if it becomes available. The ambitious coach is currently under contract with La Rochelle until 2027 but has indicated that he would be open to discussing roles with Ireland, England, or France if the opportunity arises.
O'Gara, who earned 128 caps for Ireland and played for the British & Irish Lions, has been transparent about his ambition to coach at the Test level, having led La Rochelle to back-to-back Champions Cup victories in 2022 and 2023. He has now disclosed that he would ideally like to take over one of the roles currently held by Andy Farrell, Steve Borthwick, or Fabien Galthié.
"There are Test jobs I'd jump at," said the former Munster fly-half, whose La Rochelle team kicked off their latest Champions Cup campaign with a 24-20 away win against Premiership leaders Bath on Friday night. "That usually sorts itself out if you're successful at your club. You have to have those ambitions because you want to be the best you can be."
When asked if he might be a candidate for a Wales coaching position following the national team's recent record-breaking losing streak under Warren Gatland, O'Gara indicated that it was not a top priority for him. "I haven't really thought about that," he responded. "Without being immodest, I'd prefer Ireland, England, or France."
O'Gara's potential availability will not go unnoticed in those three countries, given his reputation as one of the standout coaching talents of his generation. The 47-year-old's close friend Scott "Razor" Robertson, with whom he worked successfully at the Crusaders, is now the head coach of the All Blacks and was once considered a candidate for the England job after Eddie Jones' departure in 2022.
France has already seen the benefits of hiring Shaun Edwards as their defensive coach, and O'Gara is not the type to settle for anything less than the best, regardless of his environment. "In France, I'm seen as very demanding and difficult because of the standards I try to maintain, but I just want players to experience what I did," O'Gara explained. "I gained so much from the game. It gave me incredible emotions, and now I want to give back.
"I care deeply as a coach. I cared a lot as a player. It's probably my greatest strength. I spent two good seasons with Razor and was transformed by him. I see the potential in people now."
O'Gara admits that this season has been challenging with La Rochelle's inconsistent performance in the Top 14 league. "It's tough," said O'Gara, who is yet to win a French domestic title. "It's a fierce battle because every game in the Top 14 is difficult. People who aren't involved might not realize it's a struggle. You play 26 league games in France before the finals. It's a different dynamic. It would be easy and weak to say: 'Rog has the perfect plan for Europe but struggles in the Top 14.' For me, that's nonsense."
While the Champions Cup remains a significant goal this season, with Bristol set to visit the Atlantic coast this weekend still recovering from a tough home loss to Leinster, O'Gara acknowledges that the club would also love to be crowned French champions. "We've never won a Bouclier, so the attraction, determination, and the goal are huge. There are some really good people and players in this club. You try to inspire them. But right now, we're terribly inconsistent. We need to play well for 60 minutes, never mind 80. If we're good for 60, we'll win a lot of games. If we're good for 70, we'll be really good."
Does that uncertainty sometimes make him feel like pulling his hair out? "Yes. But you also have to be very grateful. That's what drives me every day. Many great players don't need coaching. They're self-motivated. It's the middle group that don't play for their country or are struggling for game time, they're the real challenge."
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