RONAN O’GARA HAS suggested that it might be the right time for Jamie Heaslip to join a French club.

Leinster pair Heaslip and Sean O’Brien have been linked with moves to Top 14 sides in recent weeks with flanker O’Brien meeting with Toulon representatives last week.

And former team-mate O’Gara, who is now coaching with Racing Metro, believes that the two players are in very different situations.

“Sean O’Brien is 26 and has 30 caps for Ireland, Jamie is 30 and has 60 caps – so you are not comparing like with like,” O’Gara told Sky Sports.

“Jamie is very durable and could easily stand up to it (but) maybe it’s the time for him to make the best of his career and what’s best for him financially, setting himself up for the future.

“He has given everything to Leinster and Ireland, there comes a time where maybe you think: ‘yes I need to do this’. You can perfectly see that.

But I think someone like Sean O’Brien, the exact same could apply in four years time, he doesn’t need to make the move now.

“These two players will attract the best clubs. Toulon may appeal to them, because there is a cultural change there and it’s something they might do. But there are two separate arguments for both of them.”

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