La Rochelle president: 'I have a trusting relationship with Ronan O'Gara. It’s superb to work like that'

La Rochelle president Vincent Merling speaks exclusively to the Irish Examiner on how O'Gara and Gibbes have changed the club's mindset and ambition

President of the French Top 14 rugby union club Stade Rochelais, Vincent Merling. Picture: Joel Saget

The way club president Vincent Merling tells it, La Rochelle are almost as pleased to have Ronan O’Gara as their head coach as they are with being in Saturday’s Champions Cup final.

Having overpowered Leinster in the last four, the French side will lift their first major trophy if they beat fellow Top 14 high-flyers Toulouse at Twickenham. Merling is delighted that O’Gara - along with director of rugby Jono Gibbes – is the man who has led them to this point.