Ronan O'Gara out of the picture as Leinster eye Contepomi

The idea of luring O’Gara from France to Leinster has won favour with some of the Leinster playing group, say well-placed sources, but not all in the organisation.

RESPECT: Leinster's Josh van der Flier chatting to La Rochelle head coach Ronan O'Gara after their Champions Cup match at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

ARGENTINA head coach Felipe Contepomi has emerged as the front runner to replace Leo Cullen at Leinster with Ronan O’Gara set to remove himself from any further consideration by signing a new long-term contract at La Rochelle.

Leinster are prepared to wait for their Puma former out half until after next year’s World Cup in Australia to return to Dublin as head coach.

The idea of luring O’Gara from France to Leinster has won favour with some of the playing group, say well-placed sources, but key Leinster figures inside and outside the organisation are uncomfortable with the ideas of the Munster and Ireland legend in blue.

O’Gara appeared to leave the door slightly ajar to Leinster in his Irish Examiner column last week when he revealed that he had begun talks with La Rochelle on a contract extension.

“The way some blue boys speak of you suggests I should be searching in my greying roots for devil horns in the morning,” he wrote. “The Ronan O’Gara those lads remember from 20 years ago is not the coach of today, or indeed anything like him.

"As a player you are a competitor on the pitch, you do everything and anything to win. In life, the only way you grow is getting out of your comfort zone. I’ve gotten out of that place 13 years ago, and believe me the next job I do will be relatively straightforward if it’s in English.” 

That seems to indicate some form of contact where the O’Gara camp was told that some high profile Leinster rugby figures with the ear of CEO Shane Nolan wouldn’t wear the idea of O’Gara coaching Leinster. The Cork man has always had a spiky relationship on the field and in his coaching career with Leinster.

Argentina head coach Felipe Contepomi before the Autumn Nations Series match between Ireland and Argentina at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

It is now understood that Leinster chiefs have their eyes fixed on Contepomi while O’Gara locks himself and his family into France’s Atlantic coach until 2030-31. The French web site Rugbyrama confirmed Thursday that O’Gara was in advanced talks with La Rochelle, who are extremely keen to tie him to their medium term future.

The indications are that while O’Gara loves the club and is besotted with the idea of winning a Top 14 title, there are still some sticking points to be overcome before he is ready to commit long term for owner Vincent Merling and CEO Pierre Venayre. 

One is the ambition of the club in terms of recruitment, a second is his decision-making authority across all rugby matters, and a third is his family’s happiness, which O’Gara has insisted will always be a central tenet of his decision-making on his career.

La Rochelle haven’t recruited spectacularly this summer, but will be hopeful the spate of injuries to their squad last season will not be repeated.

That said they are already down four centres ahead of Sunday’s season opener in the Top 14 against Toulouse.