RONAN O’GARA HAS revealed that he turned down some “tasty deals” to play on in France because he wanted to retire at Munster.
O’Gara, 36, called time on his career at the end of last season and is now making final preparations to move with his family and start his new job as a coach with Racing Métro.
As part of his brief he’ll be working alongside former Ireland team-mate Jonny Sexton who rocked Leinster by leaving for the Parisian giants where he will reportedly become the best-paid player in the Top 14.
The IRFU has since made it clear that they could not compete with the financial offers put in front of Sexton and O’Gara says that he had similar interest from French clubs.
But after 16 proud years and two Heineken Cups, it would not have felt right to end his playing career anywhere but Munster.
There were clubs in France that wanted me to play but I said if I’m playing, I’m playing for Munster. I didn’t want to play for another team.They were putting up some tasty deals but I wanted my last game to be for Munster so I’m happy with how that ended — obviously not the manner in which it ended but the fact that now that I’m finished and I was with Munster.
He added: “It was interesting to see how you’re viewed but at my stage and my age, and with what Munster means to me, I don’t want to dilute my legacy there. It was always important for me just to play for one club for my whole career. That’s what I’ve fulfilled.”
Ronan O’Gara was speaking today at the launch of the 1% Difference Campaign, a major public awareness campaign aimed at creating a national shift in Irish attitudes towards giving to charities and worthy causes. Pictured here with Aleashia Doyle, 4, chef and food writer Clodagh McKenna, and Mark Doyle ,7. (Sam Boal / Photocall Ireland)
O’Gara was in France this week where he met Racing coaches Laurent Travers and Laurent Labit, the two men he will work closely with next season.
Asked if there was any chance that he might be tempted out of retirement if Racing need him for emergency cover, he insisted that there is no chance of lacing up his boots again.
“That was the first thing Jonny said to me when I rang him,” he laughed. “I told Jonny confidentially, he was the one person I rang before there was anything confirmed or anything definite. He said ‘Rog, I’m going to go to the Irish team and I’m going to come back and I’m not going to get my place with Racing.’
“I’m finished, 100% finished, not a chance. The squad they have anyway, it’s not feasible, definitely not. I back Jonny all the way now.”
