Ronan O'Gara has expressed openness to the idea of managing the French rugby team in the future.
The Cork native, currently the head coach of Top 14 side La Rochelle, has secured back-to-back European trophies with the team. Due to O'Gara's achievements, he is regarded as a coach poised for further success with another team.
O'Gara's opportunity to lead an international side may arise if Fabien Galthie’s tenure as head coach of France ends. Following France's disappointing performance in the 2024 Six Nations, rumours suggest that Galthie and the French team may part ways.
In response to inquiries about joining the French setup, O'Gara stated that he wouldn't settle for a subordinate role to Galthie. Instead, he expressed interest in assuming Galthie's position if given the chance.
"Be a member of the staff? I don’t think so. When you’ve had a taste of the number one position and those responsibilities, it’s difficult [to not be in overall charge]," he told Vincent Moscato on RMC Radio’s Super Moscato Show.
Ronan O'Gara, La Rochelle Head Coach (Photo by Craig Mercer/MB Media/Getty Images)Regarding his other ambitions, O'Gara expressed a desire to win a World Cup with either France or Ireland. “I’d like to win a World Cup,” he added. “I dream of winning things, whether it’s with Ireland or France; I like it.”
In 2022, O'Gara also mentioned his willingness to consider managing the England team, a sentiment he shared before England and Eddie Jones parted ways. England has since appointed Steve Borthwick as head coach.
"Yeah, of course, I would be,” he told the London Times in November 2022.
“It’s a huge job. There’s probably a lot involved with it, and you’d have to be very firm with what your criteria are and what your role is. When you strip it all back, essentially you want to be winning games, but you need a strong support network around you to be put in that position.
“I would be thorough in my approach in terms of what country you’d like to coach. There are a handful that jump out straight away.”
