The Quins director of rugby was linked with the job after Declan Kidney was relieved of his duties this week.
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Conor O’Shea has again flatly denied he will take the newly-vacated Ireland head coach role ahead of Harelquins’ huge Heineken Cup quarter-final against Munster on Sunday.
The Quins director of rugby was linked with the job after Declan Kidney was relieved of his duties this week.
But O’Shea insisted he is not interested, instead making clear his focus and excitement at the prospect of dispatching Munster and getting Quins to their first ever Heineken Cup semi-final.
“I’m going nowhere,” said O’Shea. “I love it here and we’re just focused on achieving what we think this club can do over the next number of years.
“It’s flattering, but my job is here full stop. We’re very excited about the group of players we have and how much we still have to improve as a team.
“This Sunday will be the best day The Stoop has witnessed in terms of atmosphere and occasion. I was watching the Champions League last night and thinking ‘that’s the level we are at in rugby’.
“There is no tomorrow in games like this.Munster’s journey of heartache and loss to ultimately winning it is one of the great stories of the Heineken Cup.
“They will come absolutely full on and we will be there to meet them and greet them in the right way.”
Despite losing their last three Aviva Premiership matches, Harlequins still chase an unprecedented treble – a big turnaround since their last Heineken Cup quarter-final appearance in 2009 and the infamous ‘Bloodgate’ scandal.
It was in their 6-5 loss against Leinster that the club were found guilty of using fake blood capsules to substitute winger Tom Williams, but O’Shea stressed a corner has been turned.
“Every group have histories and they’re good and bad because you have good and bad times in your life,” he added.
“What this group wanted to do was create different chapters. The club was tainted publicly but you knew the people and the structures were in rude health.
“Over the last three seasons we have won three trophies. We are in the quarter-finals of the Heineken Cup and we are in the Premiership play-off places.
“These next eight weeks are the eight weeks you want. It could be nothing – it could be all. Hopefully it is going to be great end.”
Photo courtesy of IrishRugbyTVOfficial via YouTube, with thanks.
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