In his Examiner column today, the Munster legend confirms his desire to lead the province from the sideline, just not yet.
Once the news broke yesterday that head coach Rob Penney, and backs coach Simon Mannix, were leaving Munster at the end of the season, speculation immediately turned to those who might step in.
While Anthony Foley was instantly put in as favourite, there was some talk about Ronan O'Gara too. The Munster hero began his coaching career at Racing Metro this season, but he tells the world in his
Irish Examiner column today that he needs more experience under his belt before returning from France.
There’s no point in me running from the fact either that I want to return to Munster in a coaching capacity at some stage. I would like to be head coach with Munster. But after one season coaching? Unlikely. I will be in Paris again next season. I am adamant about that. There is idle talk floating already of the possibility of a return now to Munster as a backs coach. That’s for others to decide. But in terms of where I want to get to, this situation comes too early in my coaching career.
That's a typically direct and clear statement from O'Gara and it ends his involvement in the race to replace Penney. As for who he would like to step in, O'Gara added his voice of support to former team-mate Foley, saying the job needs a 'Munster voice' and that Foley is the 'obvious candidate'.
