I turned Connacht offer down, says Holley

Connacht’s search for Eric Elwood’s successor looks to have been reduced by one after former Ospreys coach Sean Holley said he has turned the western province down.

Elwood will step down from the Connacht head coach role at the end of this season and Holley, who was part of the Ospreys coaching set-up for nine years until last February, was on the province’s shortlist to succeed the former Ireland fly-half.

Holley, currently working as a pundit covering Welsh rugby, told BBC Wales Sport he had actually been offered the Connacht post.

“No head coach position should be taken for granted... and I am flattered and honoured to have received the Connacht offer. However, my decision is based purely on the timing and my current personal circumstances.

“The professionalism, vision and drive of the Connacht board in particular has made this a tough decision.”

The Welshman, however, did not rule out a return to coaching in the near future.

“I remain committed to rugby and am excited about some opportunities that are on the horizon.”

Connacht, preparing for their Heineken Cup home game at Harlequins on Saturday, are understood to be close to announcing former Auckland Blues head coach Pat Lam as the new man in charge, now that Holley and ASM Clermont Auvergne assistant coach Alex King, who will join the Northampton Saints staff next season, have fallen by the wayside.

It is understood Elwood’s current assistants Billy Millard and Dan McFarland have also been interviewed, as has former Wasps coach Tony Hanks.

Someone definitely staying put is Saracens director of rugby, Mark McCall, the former Ulster and Ireland centre who has signed a new contract until the end of the 2014-15 season.

McCall, 45, joined Saracens as first-team coach in 2009 and succeeded Brendan Venter during the 2010-11 campaign, leading the London club to its first Premiership title that season.

This season the Ulster man has steered Sarries back into the Premiership title race with last Sunday’s 32-12 win over Sale moving them into second place, two points behind Conor O’Shea’s Harlequins.

Victory over Racing Metro this weekend will see them stay on course to qualify for the Heineken Cup quarter-finals out of Munster’s pool.