RONAN O’GARA HAS ruled himself out as a potential replacement for Pat Lam at Connacht.
While there has been quite a lot of speculation over who will take over the reigns with the Paris-based coach one of the bookies’ favourites for the job, O’Gara has put any rumours to bed and insisted he has no intention of leaving Racing 92.
Writing in his column for the Irish Examiner this morning, the former Munster and Ireland fly-half stated that Connacht haven’t made any contact with him as of yet, but even if they did he would politely decline.
“It’s just too early for me to consider something like that at home. I don’t want to give up what we have at Racing at this stage, I am too interested in it, too much invested in it just to up sticks,” he wrote.
“Racing were in the final of the European Cup and won the Top 14 last season. It doesn’t get much better than that. And that didn’t materialise overnight, more than three years work has gone into that.
“I am 39 now. I have time. If I was going home to Ireland, it mightn’t even be for coaching. Nobody should pigeon-hole themselves into career boxes.
“My job now is getting Racing 92’s players to perform. Other people decide how well I do my job.
“There appears to be this pre-ordained career path for myself that has directed me to France to learn my trade before a certain team in Ireland comes calling. I am not even thinking of any such job, because that’s not where my head’s at.
“If the sad events of recent times tell us anything it’s that you only control one day: That’s today. Chances are my career won’t work out the way people perceive it. Indeed I am pretty sure — sure as anyone can be — that it won’t. If I am asked, I will go where there’s a project that interests me.”
Meanwhile, former Ireland international and current Grenoble head coach Bernard Jackman has revealed that he’d be interested in making contact with Connacht to become Lam’s successor.
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