Wayne Smith favourite to replace Conor O’Shea at Harlequins

Favourite: Wayne Smith
(Phil Walter/Getty Images)
Chris Jones11 February 2016

New Zealand’s highly rated Wayne Smith is favourite to replace Conor O’Shea as Harlequins director of rugby next season.

Smith, who helped coach the All Blacks to the first back-to-back World Cup victories in 2011 and 2015, is currently taking a break from rugby and is understood to be interested in returning to the club game rather than another international assignment.

He said: “I am considering several options regarding my coaching future whilst also trying to have a short break from the game. I am a wee way from making any decisions.”

In 2011, Smith was offered to England as a new national coach working alongside South Africa’s Nick Mallett but the RFU chose Stuart Lancaster as head coach. Lancaster has also been mentioned as a possible candidate to take over at Quins while he is also being linked with Super Rugby jobs in New Zealand. O’Shea will leave Quins at the end of the season and is expected to take over as Italy’s head coach from Jacques Brunel.

Smith, a former centre for New Zealand, was head coach of the All Blacks in 2000 and 2001 before spending three years with Northampton.

The 58-year-old then became Graham Henry’s assistant for eight years, helping win the 2011 World Cup, and spent two years as assistant coach at Super Rugby side Chiefs before returning to the All Blacks last year.

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