O’Shea looking forward to Harlequins challenge

CONOR O’SHEA has seen off a star-studded field to become the new director of rugby at Harlequins.

The 39-year-old former Ireland international will begin his new job in March, heading up Quins’ existing coaching staff of John Kingston, Colin Osborne and Tony Diprose.

Head coach Kingston recently agreed a new contract, but Diprose was thought to be among the rugby director contenders alongside British and Irish Lions coach Ian McGeechan and ex-Scotland supremo Frank Hadden.