Exciting.

La Rochelle head coach Ronan O’Gara has responded to being linked with a role with the British and Irish Lions in 2025 – and it turns out he’s more than interested.

Warren Gatland this week revealed he’s not interested in leading the Lions for a fourth successive tour with Ireland boss Andy Farrell now the frontrunner for the head coach role having worked as an assistant on multiple tours.

O’Gara has toured with the Lions twice, in 2001 and 2009 as a player, but has never been part of the coaching ticket.

And while O’Gara isn’t interested in the head coach role, he has revealed it would be “extremely exciting” to be part of the World Rugby coach of the year’s ticket in Australia.

“Well it depends on what role you’re offered obviously,” O’Gara told Off The Ball.

“If you’re head coach, you have to go and take a year’s sabbatical.’

“That obviously wouldn’t work [for me] obviously because of my commitment to La Rochelle.’

“If there’s a potential opening, I’m sure the bosses here – depending on my willingness to show interest in it – would be very open to trying to see me in my best version.

“Maybe my best version might be with Andy Farrell at the Lions.’

“That would be extremely exciting, I think. I don’t think reasonable people would put a stop to that.”