Stuart Lancaster insists he doesn’t have an eye on Joe Schmidt’s job

The identity of Ireland’s head coach will come autumn 2017 remains a moot point as the IRFU awaits word on Joe Schmidt’s intentions, but Stuart Lancaster has insisted his focus is on club rugby.

IRFU CEO Philip Browne has declared the game here is well stocked with potential candidates for the key role should Schmidt decide against extending his contract beyond 2017 and Lancaster’s arrival in the country adds another potential candidate to the mix.

Lancaster spent four years as England head coach but, though he made many positive changes and won some big matches, he failed to land a Six Nations title and the failure to emerge from the pool stages of last year’s World Cup proved fatal to his tenure.