Ronan O’Gara is interested in becoming the next head coach in Australia when Joe Schmidt leaves later this year.
O’Gara has supervised great success in La Rochelle since his arrival in the French Club in 2019 and won two European trophies in 2022 and 2023.
Asked about text by The Sydney Morning Herald O’Gara replied whether he would be interested in the role: “Yes. Seals. Be a great team with which you can work. “
The former half of the Ireland Fly has openly discussed its ambitions to become a test trainer in the past, even in December after a victory in Bath, when he was asked about the opportunity to replace Warren Gatland for Wales.
“I didn’t think about being honest with you. Without humility I would prefer Ireland, England or France, ”said O’Gara at the time.
“I have to have these ambitions, I think because you want to be the best that you can be. There are test jobs for which I would bite people’s hands. This usually works if you are good enough in your club. “
Rugby Australia announced on Thursday that Schmidt will leave his role as a Australia head coach after the Rugby Championship in October after it was originally only completed until the end of the British and Irish Lions series. The news means that the Wallabies have another search to take on the role two years before the Rugby World Cup.
The new head coach should be available in good time for the tour of the Wallabies of the northern hemisphere of the Wallabies at the end of the year, whereby the opponents and data still have to be confirmed.
“We are very pleased that Joe will continue to train the Wallabies about his current contract,” said Peter Horne, Director of High Performance. “After playing the positive effects of Joe with the Wallabies and achieving coaching team, we were interested in staying after the Lions series.
“Joe expressed us that he enjoyed his work with the Wallabies and at the same time made it clear that he had to spend more time with his family at home.”
Schmidt, a new Zeländer, said: “I really enjoy my time with Australian rugby. The British and Irish Lions are our immediate focus, but with the Rugby championship, which follows the Lions series, I understand the need for continuity that occurs in two away test games against South Africa. “
Schmidt replaced Eddie Jones after Australia had been pushed out of the Rugby World Championship in the pool stages for the first time in 2023.
The former Irish head coach monitored an overhaul of the Australian squad and the Wallabies in 2024, with victories against England and Wales and a close defeat against Ireland in Dublin.
His departure will look for Australia for his fourth head coach in five years after Jones replaced Dave Rennie at the beginning of 2023.
Other candidates for the role alongside O’Gara are Michael Cheika, the former Australia head coach between 2014 and 2019 and the head coach of Queensland Reds, Les Kiss and Brumbies head coach Stephen Larkham.