ROG's quiet (right-hand) man: Meet the other ex-Munster star in the trenches with La Rochelle

He's the third leg of La Rochelle's coaching stool, happiest pitchside with the players. Says Seán Dougall: 'We’ve got the players to adapt to what’s in front of us'

THE QUIET MAN: La Rochelle coach Sean Dougall: 'Leinster are a complete side.' Pic: James Crombie, Inpho

Think La Rochelle’s Irish connection, think Ronan O’Gara. Think Donnacha Ryan and Ultan Dillane. Recall Darren Sweetnam – who played a handful of matches in 2021 before moving to ProD2 side Oyonnax – and, if your Irish abroad rugby memory stretches that far, David McGowan, who locked for the French side more than 100 times between 2007 and 2012 after a short stint at Connacht.

There’s another, current, Irish link at the two-time Champions Cup winners, who face Leinster – again – on Sunday at Stade Marcel Deflandre, a fixture that’s rapidly turning into an annual highlight of the tournament.