When Ronan O'Gara's current contract with La Rochelle expires in 2027, he will undoubtedly be one of the most sought-after coaches in world rugby.
Over more than a decade of coaching, O'Gara has built an impressive reputation across several jobs overseas. His exploits with Racing 92 and the Crusaders set him up to take over as head coach of La Rochelle in 2019.
Five years later and O'Gara has transformed the French side into European giants, leading them to back-to-back Champions Cup crowns in 2022 and 2023.
Naturally, his explosion onto the European coaching scene has seen him linked with several of the biggest jobs on the continent, both at club and test level.
The Irishman has naturally been mentioned as a potential future option for his home province of Munster and for the national team job on these shores. He has also been mentioned as a potential option for some of Ireland's Six Nations rivals.
O'Gara was asked about his future after La Rochelle got their Champions Cup campaign off to a winning start last weekend and his response made clear what many had already suspected about his prospective future destinations as a coach.
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Ronan O'Gara gives hint at future Ireland prospects
28 May 2022; La Rochelle head coach Ronan O'Gara and Leinster head coach Leo Cullen before the Heineken Champions Cup Final match between Leinster and La Rochelle at Stade Velodrome in Marseille, France. Photo by Harry Murphy/Sportsfile
One of Ireland's Six Nations rivals who have hit major stumbling blocks in recent years are Wales. Warren Gatland's side went through the entirety of 2024 without winning a test match, and look to be falling rapidly off the pace of their counterparts.
After La Rochelle's opening night win over Bath, Ronan O'Gara was asked if he might have interest in taking up a role with the Welsh side should Gatland's coaching team fall.
His response was a subtly eye-opening confirmation of where he has his sights set.
There are Test jobs I’d bite people’s hands off for. That usually works itself out if you’re good enough at your club. You’ve got to have those ambitions, I think, because you want to be the best you can be.
I haven’t thought about that, to be honest with you. Without lacking humility, I’d prefer Ireland, England or France.
O'Gara was right in the mix to take over as England coach after Eddie Jones' departure in 2022. He has also been open about his desire to one day coach Ireland, while this is not the first time he has expressed interest in the French job.
However, these comments effectively confirm that the Munster legend's intention whenever he does leave La Rochelle is to move into the international game. Moreover, O'Gara clearly has his sights set on one of the three biggest jobs in Europe.
Last month, after the shock departure of Graham Rowntree, O'Gara wrote in his Irish Examiner column on the prospects of him taking over at Munster.
He was clear then that he had no interest in moving between club teams, and that his sights were set on Test rugby.
The greatest days of my rugby life were in that Munster top but I’m not interested in the Munster head coach role. Not now and hardly in the future.
Why would you take over any job? Because you think you could do better. The game of life is you against you, not anyone else. Munster is in my heart but not my head now. Besides, I would hope my next coaching move is into the Test arena.
The latest comments suggest that O'Gara is even more zeroed in on his ideal destination post-La Rochelle.
Ronan O'Gara is contracted with La Rochelle until 2027 and has openly stated that he is in no rush to leave the French side before then due to his settled family life there. When his contract expires in '27 alongside Andy Farrell's as Ireland head coach, it will certainly be intriguing to see how things play out.
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