Stuart Lancaster is not interested in the vacant job at Harlequins and has ruled out a return to the Aviva Premiership in the immediate future. The former England head coach wants to remain involved at Leinster, who face Racing 92 in the European Champions Cup final in Bilbao on Saturday.
There has been speculation linking Lancaster with the Quins role held previously by John Kingston but he is keen to continue working in Ireland and see out his contract with the increasingly powerful Irish province. “I’ve had no communication from Quins and I’ve certainly not proactively put myself forward for it,” the 48-year-old said.
Leinster’s ruthless edge can complete greenwash in Champions Cup final
“One, I am 100% committed here and two it would be 100% the wrong thing to do: to start talking about trying to win something at Leinster and at the same time be trying to create opportunities elsewhere. I wouldn’t even contemplate doing it. For me it’s all about Leinster.”
Lancaster, whose stewardship of the English national team ended in the wake of his squad’s unsuccessful 2015 Rugby World Cup campaign, is commuting to Dublin from his home in Leeds but, for now, is not inclined to pursue a change of scene.
“I will just see how it goes. I enjoyed working in England and coaching England; it was a fantastic experience and I have great memories. But, equally, to come over here, coach in the Pro14 and Ireland has been fantastic. Whether it [his next job] is in France, the southern hemisphere or I stay here for 10 years – who knows?”
Leinster are confident the scrum‑half Luke McGrath will be fit for the final on Saturday and are also hopeful their international fly-half Joey Carbery will stay with them rather than relocate to Ulster. Lancaster, for one, would prefer that Carbery remains a Leinster player alongside the first‑choice No 10 Johnny Sexton. “Personally I want to keep working with Joey at Leinster. I don’t think we should change the course of someone’s direction unless it’s in the interests of the player first and foremost.”
Super Rugby organisers, meanwhile, insist there is no truth in a report that more South African teams plan to quit the southern hemisphere tournament to play in Europe. According to Wales Online, the Durban-based Sharks, Johannesburg-based Lions and Cape Town-based Stormers are all planning to leave Super Rugby in the next few years to join the Pro14.
Bloemfontein’s Cheetahs and Port Elizabeth’s Kings have already joined the Pro14 competition after being ejected from Super Rugby at the end of the 2017 season. There has long been a desire among South African sides to play games in a more convenient time zone.
But Sanzaar’s chief executive, Andy Marinos, said: “Any talk of a change to the stakeholder relationship and partners withdrawing, creation of new teams in new markets and so‑called trans-Tasman competitions is speculation and simply wrong.”