Ronan O'Gara rules out Munster head coach role, eyes international arena

Ronan O'Gara, a Munster legend and current head coach at La Rochelle, has officially ruled himself out as a candidate for the Munster head coach role, recently vacated by Graham Rowntree.

Known for his successful playing career with Munster, where he led the team to two European Champions Cup titles, O'Gara clarified that he remains focused on his current position in France and hopes to transition to international coaching in the future.

Reacting to the recent news of Rowntree’s unexpected exit, O'Gara expressed his surprise and offered insight into ongoing challenges at Munster.

He cited long-standing "financial and environmental issues" as major factors affecting stability within the club, suggesting that the organization’s struggles extend beyond coaching decisions alone.

"The Munster elephant in the room is that the current instability has very little to do with who's coaching the team," he wrote, addressing both financial constraints and internal team dynamics.

O'Gara emphasized his commitment to La Rochelle, where he has coached for five years, noting that his focus remains on leading the club to further success in the Top 14 and European Champions Cup before his contract expires in 2027.

"The competitor in me demands that I try and win a Bouclier here and another Champions Cup with it," he said, underscoring his loyalty to La Rochelle as his best opportunity for success.

Reflecting on his ties to Munster, O'Gara shared that while the club holds a deep place in his heart, his "next coaching move" will likely be to the Test level rather than a return to Munster.

"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.

"Munster is in my heart but not my head now. Besides, I would hope my next coaching move is into the Test arena."