Alan Quinlan believes Ronan O'Gara has potentially been offered a "fantastic opportunity" to join France's back-room team ahead of the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
"I think it'd be great for him," Quinlan stated on Monday's OTB AM.
Careful not to "break any protocol" with his former Munster and Ireland teammate "or he'll kill me", Quinlan acknowledged that reports of an offer were something of an open secret in France, and now it is a matter of whether they "put a formal proposal together for him."
According to the French rugby publication Midi-Olympique, such a scenario has already come to pass with Ronan O'Gara poised to join Jacques Brunel's backroom team for the Rugby World Cup in Japan.
"I'm not sure how France will go at the World Cup, but I think it would be a fantastic opportunity for him," noted Quinlan after France suffered something of a disappointing Six Nations campaign.
"Look, it's quite open in France now that they have made contact.
"I think to bring someone like him in would be a big boost."
Currently working with the Crusaders in New Zealand, taking up a role with France would offer no obviously scheduling conflict for the former Irish out-half.
Should the reigning Super Rugby champions once again finds themselves in this year's final, it's July 6 date would theoretically allow Ronan O'Gara plenty of time before the Rugby World Cup's start in September.
Whatever of the move, however, Alan Quinlan remains hopeful that O'Gara will ultimately find his way back into the Irish set-up.
"I'd love to see him become part of Andy Farrell's coaching ticket going forward," stated Quinlan with one eye on how Joe Schmidt's replacement will formulate his back-room team.
However, should rumours of Ronan O'Gara's move to France come to fruition, Quinlan believes a positive performance at the Rugby World Cup could well lead to the French Rugby Federation looking at the Cork native as a prospective head coach thereafter.
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