Matt O’Connor not going anywhere – Rugby News Update
Matt O’Connor, the 41-year-old former Australian centre and the current attacks coach of the Leicester Tigers has been heavily linked to the vacant head coach position at Western Force, in the Australian Super 15 league.
Richard Cockerill, the head coach of the Leicester Tigers has rubbished any rumours, saying that the coach is going to stay.
"Matt has not applied for the job and he has no intention of taking it," said Cockerill.
O’Connor joined the Tigers in the summer of 2008 and he is the right-hand man of Cockerill when it comes to running the attacks for Leicester. The Tigers reached the consecutive final of the Aviva Premiership this season, losing out to the Harlequins, but
during the 22-game season, they scored the most number of tries. In total they ended with 70 tries, and their nearest rivals, the Quins could only manage 53.
Western Force parted company with their head coach, Richard Graham half-way through the season. He has moved to the Queensland Reds, and the club is desperate to fill the vacant position as soon as possible.
However, Cockerill has insisted that these rumours are false, and adding that an extension to his current deal has already been under discussion.
He said, "In fact, I have already started discussing the possibility of him extending his contract and staying here for longer."
Tigers' chief executive, Simon Cohen added, "Matt O'Connor is an outstanding coach and he is always going to be in demand."
"He is contracted to us for another season and we would expect him to see out that contract and hopefully beyond."
The West Australian newspaper recently published that O’Connor is one of the five shortlisted people for the job. The other names in contention are the former Ospreys' head coach Scott Johnson, Michael Cheika, of Stade Francais, former Ireland coach Eddie
O'Sullivan, and John Mulvihill, the assistant coach of the Western Force.
Western Force currently lie bottom of the Australian Conference with just three wins from 13 games, and it will be a taller order for the new coach, whoever he is.
O’Connor represented the Wallabies just once in his career against the Irish in 1994.
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