HARLEQUINS DIRECTOR OF rugby Conor O’Shea has denied that he is set to leave the Aviva Premiership champions.
O’Shea has been linked with a move to the RFU’s vacant position as head of player development, while there has also been speculation the former Ireland international will replace Declan Kidney as head coach of the Irish team.
But O’Shea has declared his job with Harlequins is ‘far from finished’ as they continue their bid for back-to-back titles.
“I haven’t a clue where the RFU story might have come from as there has been absolutely no contact by them with me,” O’Shea told the Daily Telegraph. “The Ireland connection had a certain logic to it given my background and, although it’s very flattering to be associated with such jobs, I am more than happy at Harlequins.
“The job here is far from finished. The next nine days, with the game at Gloucester followed by the home Heineken Cup quarter-final against Munster, is an unbelievably exciting time for the club.”
With four rounds remaining in the 2012-13 season, Harlequins are third, eight points behind leaders Saracens. Harlequins will host Munster in a Heineken Cup quarter-final next weekend, the match part of a busy schedule that included a 32-14 triumph over Sale Sharks in the Anglo-Welsh Cup on March 17.
With so much happening at the London club, O’Shea claims he has no intentions of working anywhere else.
“We won the LV= Cup (Anglo-Welsh Cup) last week with a young side, are currently in a Premiership play-off position and have never managed to get to a Heineken Cup semi-final,” O’Shea said. “These are great days for the club and I’m committed to Harlequins.
“There is a whole lot going on and I intend to be very much part of it.”
