Richard Cockerill on high-profile shortlist for Connacht job

Former Georgia head coach Richard Cockerill is in the running to succeed Colm Tucker as Connacht’s scrum coach at the end of the season.

Tucker is moving on after a decade-long association with the province once the 2025/26 campaign is over after being appointed as head coach of Ireland U20s.

Cockerill has been on the lookout for a new job since he resigned as Lelos head coach in mid-December.

The 55-year-old former England and Leicester player and coach has previous experience in the URC from his four-year spell in charge of Edinburgh (2017-21).

Other contenders for the scrum coach job are believed to include Rugby World Cup 2003 winner, Trevor Woodman, and former Northampton scrum guru, Matt Ferguson.

Like Cockerill, Gloucester legend Woodman is another to have coached the club he once played for with distinction. He is currently scrum coach and assistant forwards coach at the Cherry & Whites, having first been appointed to the coaching staff in 2014.

Ferguson joined Harlequins last August, as lead rugby transition coach, having spent the previous seven seasons at Northampton, where the honed a reputation as one of the best scrum coaches in the game.

Prior to his time in the East Midlands, Ferguson worked with the Red Roses and was also part of the England A coaching team in February 2025.

Whoever lands the job will get to work with Bath loose-head prop, Francois van Wyk.

Van Wyk’s signing for the start of next season, which was exclusively revealed by RugbyPass ther other week, was today confirmed by the club.

During his time at Bath, 34-year-old van Wyk played a key role in the club’s historic treble-winning season, contributing to the Gallagher Premiership, EPCR Challenge Cup and Premiership Rugby Cup title wins.

However, the South African has had to play second fiddle to Beno Obano foir the No.1 jersey since arriving at The Rec in 2024.

“We’re confident Francois can be a real asset to the group next season,” said Connacht head coach Stuart Lancaster.

“He’s an excellent scrummager, brings huge physicality whenever he plays, and comes with a wealth of experience at the highest level of Northern Hemisphere rugby.

“He plays an important role in a very successful Bath team, and we’re looking forward to him bringing those learnings from across his career.”