Lancaster eyes redemption but don't count on it being in the Premiership

Stuart Lancaster has been a huge success since he’s joined Irish side Leinster and it’s little surprise that the former England head coach is being mentioned when Premiership jobs come up.

When Northampton Saints gave Jim Mallinder the boot in December Lancaster was linked to the role. Now Harlequins are on the hunt for a new Director of Rugby after John Kingston agreed to step down at the end of the season and again whispers over Lancaster returning to England have resurfaced.

But why return to the bear pit? When asked about Northampton speculation, Lancaster said at the time “I can’t see it happenening. I can’t see why it would because I’m at a great club at the moment. It wasn’t a hard decision to stay at Leinster and extend my contract by another year. I’m really enjoying what I’m doing, it fits my family. I’m coaching a great team in two good competitions. That’s all that’s on my mind.”

Lancaster’s reputation took a battering in the wake of England’s exit at the 2015 World Cup. Rob Andrew, the RFU’s former director of professional rugby, was particularly scathing in his autobiography, describing the tournament as “a slow-motion car crash” and added that Lancaster “took his eye off the ball”.

Away from the glare and spotlight of being England head coach Lancaster has rebuilt, he’s been widely feted by players in the Leinster set-up since he took the senior coach role under Leo Cullen.

The recently-retired Jamie Heaslip was fulsome in his praise in an interview with the BBC.

“I don’t know why he gets the criticism in the UK that he gets but he is absolutely loved and adored by everyone at Leinster. I’d put him up there with Joe Schmidt in terms of best coaches I’ve ever worked for.”

“His theory of playing rugby, of being comfortable in chaos, structuring that in training and making you think your way through the game is really benefiting Leinster.”

And with Joe Schmidt’s deal with Ireland running out at the end of the 2019 Rugby World Cup Lancaster has been spoken of as a potential successor – his contract with Leinster runs to the end of the 2018/19 season.

Andy Farrell, his former assistant with England, is already in the Irish set-up as a defence coach and was a key figure in their Grand Slam success. The two would be comfortable working alongside each other once again.

Lancaster’s vast experience at national level also includes three years as the RFU’s Head of Elite Player Development, working with the England Saxons, before being appointed to England head coach role in 2011. His familiarity with the Irish system and working with some of their exciting prospects at Leinster, such as Jordan Larmour and James Ryan, gives him an added advantage in a post-2019 era. Much of the talent emerging in Ireland has been coming from the Leinster academy and Lancaster has the inside track.

His current set-up with Leinster allows him to commute to Dublin from his home in Leeds and this would be something he could continue to do should the IRFU come calling. An extended stay in Ireland looks likelier than a return to the Premiership.

Watch episode one of the Rugby Explorer with Jim Hamilton.

Ex-Scotland international, Jim Hamilton, travels to Singapore to explore the city and find out more about the rugby scene in the Southeast Asian country. He meets up with the national team captain and several local players.