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| - Former Ireland fly-half Ronan O'Gara said on Thursday he was proud after being promoted to La Rochelle's director of rugby role. O'Gara, 44, who played 130 times for his country as well as the British and Irish Lions, will make the step up from head coach of the European Champions Cup semi-finalists after Jono Gibbes' departure to Clermont at the end of the campaign. O'Gara along with ex-New Zealand loose forward Gibbes have guided the side to their first Champions Cup last-four tie, as they host Leinster on May 2. "I am extremely proud of the trust that La Rochelle continue to show me by appointing me at the head of the team," O'Gara, whose new deal runs until 2024, said in a club statement. "I am obviously very excited about next season, but first, we have important challenges ahead of us and above all a good season to end in the best possible way," he added. O'Gara retired from playing in 2013 and has had coaching spells with Racing 92 and the Crusaders, where he won two Super Rugby titles. La Rochelle trail Top 14 leaders Toulouse due to their head-to-head record and have had this weekend's league trip to Brive postponed after the hosts recorded Covid-19 cases in their squad. Earlier, Clermont announced Gibbes as their replacement for head coach Franck Azema, who has been linked with joining billionaire-backed Montpellier. Gibbes, 44, will return to Clermont in July on a three-year deal after helping them win the Top 14 in 2017 as forwards coach. Azema, whose contract was due to run until 2023, revealed his exit plans in February. He has been with Clermont for 11 seasons, first as assistant to Vern Cotter and then, since 2014, as head coach. Azema's men, third in the table, head to sixth-placed Lyon on Saturday. fga/ari/jld/mw/bsp/iwd
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