La Rochelle boss Ronan O’Gara is in superior talks with Italy star Tommaso Menoncello about becoming a member of his rebuilding programme – a much-needed increase following Saturday’s Champions Cup exit by the hands of Munster.
O’Gara has watched Les Maritimes, who haven’t gained since beating Toulouse on January 4, slide alarmingly down the Top 14 desk after eight defeats and a draw of their final 9 outings. Now, they’ve been booted out of Europe following a 25-24 defeat on the Stade Marcel-Deflandre, prompting the Ireland legend to confess that La Rochelle, at present eight factors above the relegation locations, are in freefall.
“We’re in freefall, so for High 14, it’s the identical commonplace, if not higher, with the groups coming. The opposition isn’t going to get any weaker. We’re lacking a key ingredient, which is confidence and perception, however we now have to search out that rapidly.
“I hoped [the Munster game] would flip our season, however we now have to return to the drafting board and see what could be resurrected,” a dissatisfied O’Gara informed the BBC.
Main surgical procedure is underway, with veteran scrum-half Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 34, on his strategy to Stade Francais, winger Teddy Thomas, 21, becoming a member of Toulouse, and full-back Brice Dulan, 35, set to hyperlink up with Stade Niçois.
O’Gara, who led La Rochelle to back-to-back Champions Cup final triumphs in 2022 and 2023, has already recruited scrum-half Nolann Le Garrec from Racing 92 and Georgian full-back Davit Niniashvili from Lyon. Colomiers full-back Ugo Pacome can even be part of, and in keeping with Midi Olympique, La Rochelle are in superior talks with Menoncello, 22, who was named the 2024 Six Nations Participant of the Championship.
Menoncello, who can play inside centre, outdoors centre and on the wing, scored two tries on this yr’s match towards France and England. Regardless of being beneath contract with Benetton till June 2026, he’s reportedly closing in on a transfer to the Bay of Biscay this summer season.
