Ryan, Steenkamp join O'Gara's coaching staff

La Rochelle have confirmed their new coaching structures ahead of the 2021/22 season. 

With Jono Gibbes departing the club, joining Clermont, Ronan O'Gara has been promoted from Head Coach to the Director of Rugby role and will take full control of the senior team. 

Former Germany international and La Rochelle double centurion, Robert Mohr has been confirmed as the Sporting Director of the club and will take control of the recruitment and training of the club's men's and women's teams across the board. 

Romain Carmignani (forwards) and Sébastien Boboul (backs) will assist O'Gara with the first team having signed on with the club until the end of the 2024 season while O'Gara's former teammate at Munster and Ireland,  Donnacha Ryan, joins the senior coaching set-up. 

Having closed out his career with Racing 92 at the end of the 2020/21 season, the former second-rower represented Ireland 47 times. He will be in charge of the forwards alongside Romain Carmignani.

Former Bulls, Toulouse and Springbok prop Gurthro Steenkamp also joins the La Rochelle coaching team as the scrum coach for the senior team as well as the co-head coach of the Academy side along with Sébastien Morel. The former prop won three Super Rugby titles with the Bulls, two Top 14 titles with Toulouse and a Rugby World Cup with the Springboks representing his country on 53 occasions.