O'Gara's La Rochelle Enter Challenge Cup After Champions Cup Exit
Ronan O'Gara's La Rochelle team has dropped into the Challenge Cup following their failure to advance to the knockout stages of the Champions Cup.
With four Champions Cup titles to his name—two as a Munster player and two as La Rochelle's head coach—it is unsurprising that O'Gara approaches Europe's secondary competition with measured detachment.
Only three years ago, La Rochelle were a dominant force in the premier European competition, securing back-to-back titles in 2022 and 2023. However, after consecutive knockout round eliminations in the last two seasons, they did not progress beyond the pool stage this time.
La Rochelle now have two routes to return to the Champions Cup: finishing in the top eight of France's Top 14 league or winning the Challenge Cup.
Currently ninth in the domestic standings, O'Gara leads his squad to Belfast for Friday's Challenge Cup quarter-final against Ulster (kick-off 20:00 GMT), following a heavily rotated lineup that defeated Newcastle in the round of 16 last week.
"We're very aware of what we did in the other competition, we don't really want to be playing in this competition," said O'Gara. "But sometimes in life you've got to take your medicine and this is where we are. We know why we're here and that's because of not getting what we needed to get out of the Harlequins game [in the final Champions Cup pool game]. That's all in the past now. We're looking forward to Friday, it'll be a big learning experience but a big challenge, but if we were to show our true hand we could be very interesting."
Ulster's Approach and Injury Concerns
Ulster, aiming to secure their first major trophy in two decades, are expected to field a stronger, more experienced side. Head coach Richie Murphy included several Irish internationals in last week's 28-24 victory over Ospreys.
O'Gara acknowledged the step up in challenge Ulster will present, noting the difference in opposition quality, fan support, and intimidation levels compared to previous matches.
"We know it's going to go up ten-fold this weekend, it's a different calibre of opposition with a different support base and different intimidation," O'Gara said. "It's part of the learning curve for every young player so it'll be challenging at times on Friday, but when we're on the ropes we need to stay in the fight against Ulster. That's key because they are a hugely improved side, but they still haven't arrived at being able to consistently put away big teams. We are a big team even though we'd like to be a big group and there's a difference. We have to transfer the big team into the big group and that's the challenge this weekend for us."
O'Gara Reflects on His Past and La Rochelle's Youthful Squad
Despite having only "half an eye" on the Challenge Cup, a return to Belfast may evoke memories for the legendary Irish fly-half. In 2000, O'Gara scored all points for Munster in a 21-16 Interprovincial Championship victory at Ulster's Ravenhill, outperforming rival Ireland fly-half David Humphreys.
Now 49, O'Gara is focused on guiding La Rochelle's emerging talent during what he describes as the club's "rebuild mode." Against Newcastle last week, all but one of his starting forwards were aged 23 or younger. He started a 19-year-old, Diego Jurd, at fly-half and another 19-year-old, Gabin Garault, at hooker.
With a significant injury list affecting several experienced players, O'Gara has indicated a similar youthful lineup for the upcoming match at the Affidea Stadium.
Ulster's Progress and Coaching Staff
O'Gara, who closely monitors Irish rugby alongside his La Rochelle duties, has been impressed by Ulster's progress this season after a difficult 2024-25 campaign.
"It's been excellent, it's been quick. I think the main point is they look very sustainable and I think they put a huge emphasis on their identity and what playing for Ulster looks like and means to people. You can see they play with huge passion and accuracy and obviously they've got a smart coaching group, you can see that in the way they play, the tries they score. Obviously Johnny Sexton's brother Mark is there and he's doing a great job and then they have Jimmy [Duffy], who's going back home, but he's always been a really good coach."
"I think you're seeing the benefits of Richie [Murphy, head coach] being in different environments and working with a lot of class players and class coaches that he is now is probably a better version of himself and he's bringing that experience into how his team are playing or how he wants to play the game. [Stuart] McCloskey probably epitomises them. They have their patterns but they're also an instinctive team and that makes them very dangerous."
Key Player: Ulster Fly-Half Jack Murphy
O'Gara has singled out Ulster fly-half Jack Murphy as a significant threat, emphasizing the importance of containing the 21-year-old in order to secure a win in Belfast.
Murphy has been instrumental in Ulster's resurgence, and his kicking ability has drawn praise from one of rugby's all-time greats.
"He looks natural and that's one of the most important things that young number 10s need to be," O'Gara said. "If you try and copy someone, it usually doesn't work out, but he looks exciting, instinctive, he can also play the shape his dad wants him to play. He looks very interesting. I think he doesn't try and force it and picks the option which is normally the good option which is an important skill. His reading and vision is very, very good and he has a very good kicking game, which helps, especially attacking kicks because sometimes the space isn't with the hand the closer you get to the line. There's opportunities out wide and he has a laser of a foot so it makes him difficult to play against."
