Despite heavy rumours of a return to Ireland, it looks like Ronan O’Gara is set to stay in France with La Rochelle.

The Munster legend is reported by Midi Olympique to be nearing a 4-year extension to remain with the west coast side, keeping him there until 2031.

O’Gara took charge of the French side back in 2019 and since then has transformed the side into one of the best in Europe, winning back-to-back Champions Cup Finals against Leinster in 2022 and 2023.

However, he is yet to win the Top 14, losing in two finals to Toulouse in 2021 and 2023, and in his column in the Irish Examiner recently, O’Gara spoke about his obsession with winning the top prize in French rugby.

‘La Rochelle and the Bouclier remain an absolute obsession, greater at this moment that any other coaching project I could nominate or conceive of. Head-melting stuff in a way. With a contract coming to an end, it could chime with opportunities to consider other options, but where I sit today, La Rochelle is the only project in my eyeline. It really is.’

O’Gara’s contract was set to expire in 2027, and he hasn’t been shy about looking to move on into the Test scene, but with Andy Farrell signing a new deal with Ireland, and most other international gigs sewn up for the meantime, O’Gara has chosen to stay at La Rochelle.

That Midi Olympique report seemingly rules Ronan O’Gara out of the Leinster running, and while it always felt unlikely, it was hard to ignore the potential opening at Leinster coming at the same time O’Gara becomes available.

It leaves the Dublin side with a few options heading forward, with Argentina Head Coach Felipe Contepomi a reported front-runner for the gig, with the likes of Razor Robertson also available if Leinster choose not to hire from within.

It’s a big season ahead for Leinster, returning to the RDS and seeing off Leo Cullen, the man who has been involved in every trophy the side has won in the professional era. Only the best can fill his shoes.