O’Shea happy at Quins and rules out replacing Kidney

Conor O’Shea has moved to quash speculation linking him with the Ireland job by insisting he is happy at Harlequins and wants to extend his contract at the club.

The 42-year-old has been installed as favourite by the bookmakers to replace Declan Kidney if the IRFU decide not to extend the latter’s contract at the end of the Six Nations.

Sunday’s shock defeat by Scotland — a game in which Ireland had 77% possession — has increased calls for Kidney’s four-year reign to be brought to an end, and O’Shea would be an obvious replacement.