Top 14 club chasing Ronan O'Gara

May 01, 2019
1223
Ultimate Rugby

La Rochelle is trying to persuade Crusaders assistant coach Ronan O'Gara to join the club, according to French news reports.

Various French media outlets reported that La Rochelle want O'Gara to replace backs coach Xavier Garbajosa when the former French international leaves at the end of the season.

Rugby Rama has reported that La Rochelle were "getting closer to Ronan O'Gara to find a replacement". Negotiations are expected to be completed this week.

O'Gara, 42, played 128 tests for Ireland before moving to France in 2013 to become Racing 92's backs coach.

The World Rugby Hall of Famer joined the Crusaders in 2018, helping Scott Robertson's team to back-to-back Super Rugby titles. He is under contract with the Crusaders until the end of the 2019 Super Rugby season and has been linked to a host of coaching roles including one with French national team.

Other suggestions have been that he could return to his old stomping ground with Munster.