HARLEQUINS DIRECTOR OF Rugby Conor O’Shea will not be leaving his post to take up a role with Ireland any time soon.
The former international fullback is many people’s favourite to take over as head coach in Ireland when Declan Kidney’s contract is up this summer.
However, the 42-year-old coach of the English champions and league leaders today poured cold water on such a move, telling Chris Jones of the London Evening Standard that he not only intended to honour his existing contract, but would be keen on extending it.
“I’m contracted to Harlequins until the end of the 2013-14 season, I will be honouring that commitment and hopefully continuing beyond it.”
With Ireland’s hopes of winning the Six Nations championship ended, Kidney’s departure would appear a foregone conclusion.
However, the conundrum for the IRFU will be the absence of contenders for the role, particularly after O’Shea ruled himself out.
Runners and riders
This afternoon, Ladbrokes installed Welsh Grand Slam winner and current coach of Ireland’s under 20s Mike Ruddock as a 3/1 favourite to take over the role on a full time basis.
O’Shea was second favourite at 4/1, hut his odds may lengthen beyond Nick Mallett, Eric Elwood and Joe Schmidt (five, six and seven to one respectively) after expressing his commitment to the Premiership side today.
Other contenders for the post, according to Ladbrokes, are Eddie O’Sullivan (66/1), Eddie Jones, Brian O’Driscoll (both 40/1), Sir Clive Woodward (100/1) and Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder (40/1)
