RONAN O’GARA HAS indicated his interest in joining Andy Farrell’s coaching team when he takes over as Ireland head coach after the World Cup.
Joe Schmidt recently revealed that he will step down after the 2019 tournament, with Farrell stepping up to succeed the New Zealander.
He will be leaving his current role as defence coach to take up the new position, which will create an opening in the Ireland coaching staff.
O’Gara is working with the Crusaders at present and is set to remain in New Zealand for the 2019 Super Rugby season after signing a contract extension earlier this year.
But in an interview with Virgin Media’s Sinéad Kissane, he said that he would be interested in joining the Ireland backroom team under Farrell if an offer was extended to him.
“Of course yeah,” said the former Munster and Ireland out-half, “but I would be in contact with a few guys in the IRFU. I’ve played all my rugby here and trying to do the best I can and try to create my own journey as a coach.
It changes very quickly. One phonecall could change anything.
“At the minute I’m in New Zealand and happily contracted to the Crusaders, and will be for a while.
EXCLUSIVE: Ronan O’Gara on whether or not he’d be interested in being part of Andy Farrell’s Ireland coaching team@sineadkissane @RonanOGara10 @IrishRugby pic.twitter.com/zwTD0QO13t
— Virgin Media News (@VirginMediaNews) November 28, 2018
He added: “But something like that, it’s your home country you do at some stage [want to get involved in coaching there]. But I think it’s important that you get your timing right.
“An opening doesn’t mean anything it’s about how you can make it better and whether you can make it better. Who knows, depending on what role is available. But you can see that the show here is very strong at the minute.
Someday, hopefully it’ll happen.
O’Gara has built up an impressive coaching career since retiring as a player and previously worked with Racing 92 before moving to the Crusaders.
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Great game.. One of the best Club Finals I’ve ever seen.. Huge pace, skill & intensity. Ballymun will be devastated but what a comeback by Brigids…Perhaps Mun deserved a second day out & it’s a long way back for them.. Nobody can deny a great football parish like Kiltoom their big day & Roscommon deserves it…
I Can’t agree after being there, Dean Rock missing easy frees put a damper on the result, where some mental changes of possession at the end made it look gormless. But still delighted for Brigit’s, I was shell shocked for an hour, having no recollection of a Roscommon senior team’s victory there.
It might have been scrappy but some of the defending was brilliant, great game of football for the neutral.
Frankie has been a top player over the years. Delighted he got the winner
Hurling .?? Ffs proof read
Wonder why Frankie Dolan hasn’t played for Roscommon in many years ?That winning point was pure class….
Hard luck to Kickhams, it’s a killer to loose in that way by one point. They can be proud of their achievements throughout the season.
Very hard on them. Was convinced they would win. Young team though… Even as a Dub, have to say I’m glad. They have several lads from the country, but far worse than that they have approached and poached a good few other players from other dublin clubs. Connolly (Fingallians), Leahy (Clontarf) and Byrne (Towers) at least. They also approached Paul Flynn (Fingallians) when they were poaching Connolly. Completely against the ethos of the GAA… That said, hard luck lads…
Ah look, you could say the same about plenty of other Dublin clubs. You’re only focussing on Ballymun as they are where they are. They haven’t done anything that’s not fair game within the rules.
Ask me a*** born bred ballymuner proud man today
@John I’m pretty sure approaching players behind the backs of their clubs is against the rules, as well as the spirit of the GAA. Thankfully someone like Paul Flynn stayed loyal to his club… You’re right though, they’re by no means the worst. As far as I know they’re not paying any players. Can’t say that for the likes of Parnells, Sylvesters and even Brigids (Dublin) with the likes of Emlyn Mulligan and John o’Loughlin getting paid.
@Leslie I’m sure you were proud. But you have chosen to ignore my point. Lot of good work going on underage though, so hopefully you will have no need for poaching players in the future.
In saying that Martin.. Huge work went into Ballymun by Paddy Christie & others & it’s 90% home grown… Hubbard, McMahon, rock, McCarthy, Dolan..etc
They deserve their big day.. Their Dublin & Leinster titles.. Teams outside Dublin also mop up neighboring talent.. Even Cross did it at times…Nemo had imports.. St Galls etc.. All big clubs have number of imports & fair play to them..
Two great teams today…even with 3-4,imports its minimal.
Fair point, Mick. Christie has put huge work in. Huge portion of the team is made up of the underage teams he has taken…
Unfortunately, it is far too common these days. Dublin clubs get a lot of stick, but a lot of country clubs are at it as well. Is ignored by the media when the likes of Cross do it…
Country lads playing for a dublin club when they’re living there is inevitable, but poaching players from rival clubs is too far. Never mind paying them. The likes of Parnells and Sylvesters are a joke in dublin GAA…
Hasn’t worked in the majority of cases as well. It’s the clubs with good underage structures who have been successful…
As a neutral i am delighted for the Rossies, always nice to beat the Dubs especially in a close contest
Very exciting game considering the conditions and superb point at end to win it. . .at the end of the day Frankie Dolan just had the experience to pop the ball over the bar! Ballymun will be back. . .they are young and will learn from this experience!! Football was definitely the winner today! Great game for neutrals! :-)
well done brigids, hard luck mun , great game . Nice end to the week for Roscommon after that fool in the Dail embarrassed them
With a 9 point lead we had it won, Bridget’s experience and cool heads under pressure was superb. They picked away at the score. Hopefully we can get back there again and learn from it.
Shane Curran only ran 20 yards out of goal today, he’s a minimalist now. 2nd biggest highlight for Roscommon after everyone remembering Ming as a jolly loveable scamp.
Gutted for the ‘muns maybe next year.
frankie doesnt play for roscommon cause he was not selected by management as he was “not” good enough and was treated badly…Winning the all ireland with brigids means so much more to him as he is playing in the snr team since 17 years old…..and if he retires now well you cant asked for a better way
Well Done Brigid’s,It was some display from both sides. So proud to see the way they came back from such a deficit to win. Having seeing them beaten in the final two years ago and being beaten last year in the semifinal it took some character to regroup and come back.
Frankie Dolan is a king ! Held his nerve and got the winning point. Why he does nt play for Roscommon anymore I don’t know but I’m sure he has good reason. One thing I do know is that he and the rest of the team done their club,parish and County proud.
Ballymun were a class act , which made this match one of the best ever club finals, they are a young side that will be back I’m sure.
Best team won. Up Brigids!!!
Great to see a Roscommon flag flying high on the podium as the cup was hoisted!
Great game of football. Well done Bridget’s, well deserved.
Great Game intense stuff , well brigids hard luck kickers
Lads it might be useful to confine the discussion to the game and not the side show of ‘importing players’. A fab game for neutrals I wanted neither to lose and give us another day in Mullingar or Cavan or wherever. Brigids have been desolated after previous defeats so their time was yesterday. Ballymun are a fine side whose biggest problem will be winning Dublin this year as any one if about five could in a given day. Well done to both teams.
I heard MING was in the stands praying for points and maybe a penalty.!!’Come on Bridgits and the Rossies!
Even money plus three at half time thank you John Boyle