Joe Schmidt will have to look elsewhere for a defensive guru.
Reports in France suggest Ronan O'Gara has rebuffed an offer from the IRFU to come home and replace Les Kiss as Ireland's defence coach.
Joe Schmidt is on the lookout for a replacement for Kiss, who left the international set-up after the World Cup to become director of rugby at Ulster.
French rugby paper
Midi Olympique are today reporting that the former Munster fly-half has rejected an offer and will instead extend his stay with Racing Metro, where he looks after defensive matters for coaches Laurent Labit and Laurent Travers.
Having started out as a skills and kicking coach with the Paris club, the Corkman's brief has expanded and he now has the opportunity to work with All Blacks legend Dan Carter, who has replaced Johnny Sexton as the club's marquee 10.
The IRFU
may turn now to former Wales coach Shaun Edwards, or perhaps make an approach to Grenoble's Bernard Jackman as attack specialist Schmidt looks for a defence coach ahead of next year's Six Nations defence.
https://twitter.com/gavinmortimer7/status/671255919632715776
Midi Olympique have more news on another Irish coach, reporting that Eddie O'Sullivan has finally agreed terms with Biarritz to bring the curtain down on his unhappy spell in the Basque country.
https://twitter.com/gavinmortimer7/status/671256667615576064
