Harlequins' Director of Rugby Shortlist

While all the speculation following Connor O’Shea’s announcement that this season would be his last at Harlequins has centred around where the Irishman will head next, it creates a very appetising vacancy in South-West London, one which will be intriguing to coaches from all over the world.

Quins boast one of the strongest squads in the Aviva Premiership, plenty of young players who will only get better, one of the country’s leading academies and the financial muscle to attract a star or two over the coming seasons. The club regularly sells out the Stoop, and with the plans in place to expand the stadium beyond its current 14,816 capacity, the future is bright on and off the field for the club.

So, which coaches could be at the top of Quins’ shortlist?

Internal

Like any club worth its salt, Quins do a great job of developing coaching talent below the Director of Rugby level and it’s there where they must first look.

John Kingston is a well-respected scrum coach but may be seen as too much of a specialist for a DoR job, leaving the trio of Mark Mapletoft, Tony Diprose and Collin Osborne. Mapletoft has consistently done a good job with Quins’ backs, while Osborne, skills coach, and Diprose, defence coach, have both spent considerable time as the club’s Academy Manager and have a good understanding of traits required for an overseer role like DoR.

All three would have their merits if promoted and should certainly be considered alongside the more high-profile candidates from outside of the club.

Free Agents

As soon as O’Shea’s announcement was made, dots began to be connected with the currently unemployed Stuart Lancaster. The former England head coach has spent some time in South Africa working with the Stormers of late, but is without a full-time position since he parted ways with the RFU in the autumn.

Lancaster deserves plenty of praise for the work he did as Head of Elite Development for the RFU and perhaps he is more suited to a role as a DoR as opposed to a hands-on coaching and selection position. This would create an opportunity for Lancaster to bring in his own head coach or promote one of Mapletoft, Diprose or Osborne.

New Zealand’s Sir John Kirwan is another potentially good fit in Twickenham, with the former Blues, Italy and Japan coach known for his desire to play ambitious, expansive rugby, something which is also engrained in the DNA of Quins. Kirwan is unattached following his stint with the Blues and would likely enjoy taking the reins of a club where he doesn’t have to worry about an annual exodus abroad.

Another Kiwi who would offer similar intent to put the ball through the hands would be the Crusaders’ Todd Blackadder. Blackadder has already confirmed that the 2016 Super Rugby season will be his last at the franchise and he would be available for the beginning of the 2016/17 Premiership season.

One name that has slipped under the radar is that of Josh Lewsey. The former Wasps and England star resigned from his position as Head of Rugby at the WRU at the end of last year, amidst plenty of speculation that he could be set to replace Rob Andrew at the RFU.

Andrew is still in place at the RFU and Lewsey is currently without a position. Did Lewsey have advance warning that O’Shea would be leaving Quins? It seems unlikely, but Quins could do much, much worse than bring a rugby brain of Lewsey’s calibre on board.

Employed Targets

No one likes to see a coach poached from another club, but such is the way of professional sport. If Quins are willing to ante up the considerable compensation to buy out a coach from their current contract, these guys could be at the top of their shopping list.

Connacht’s Pat Lam has done a fantastic job raising the province to prominence amidst the established powers of Leinster, Munster and Ulster and would be high on any owner’s shopping list. That work with Connacht has erased much of the doubt that his last season with the Blues created and he could be tempted by the Premiership, especially if he believes the IRFU will continue to focus on Leinster, at the expense of Connacht.

Joe Worsley is doing a fine job at Bordeaux-Bègles under the tutelage of his former teammate, Raphaël Ibañez. Whilst uninvolved in Quins’ hiring process, the RFU would also be keen to see Worsley return to England from the Top 14, as the former flanker would be a strong candidate for a role with England in the eventual post-Eddie Jones era.

Finally, Sale’s Steve Diamond has been excelling in his role in the North-West and whilst undoubtedly loyal to the Sharks, may be tempted by the potential of Quins, something which Sale will struggle to match. Diamond keeps Sale competitive with bargain veteran additions and extensive use of the club’s academy, despite the club not having the support or financial firepower of many of their Premiership rivals, and the prospect of Quins’ chequebook, highly-respected academy and the London factor would likely prove very enticing to Diamond.