Ronan O’Gara has expressed an interest in becoming the next head coach of Australia when Joe Schmidt departs later this year.

O’Gara has overseen great success at La Rochelle since arriving at the French club in 2019, winning two European Cups in 2022 and 2023.

Asked over text by the Sydney Morning Herald whether he would be interested in the role, O’Gara responded: “Yes. Keen. Be a great team to work with.”

The former Ireland fly-half has openly discussed his ambitions to become a Test coach in the past, including in December after a win at Bath when he was asked about the possibility of replacing Warren Gatland in charge of Wales.

“I haven’t thought about that, to be honest with you. Without lacking humility, I would prefer Ireland, England or France,” O’Gara said at the time.

“You have got to have those ambitions, I think, because you want to be the best you can be. There are Test jobs I would bite peoples’ hands off for. That usually works itself out if you are good enough at your club.”

Rugby Australia announced on Thursday that Schmidt will leave his role as Australia head coach following the Rugby Championship in October, having originally been contracted only until the end of the British and Irish Lions series. The news means the Wallabies are facing another search to fill the role, two years out from hosting the Rugby World Cup.

The new head coach would need to be in place in time for the Wallabies’ northern hemisphere tour at the end of the year, with opponents and dates yet to be confirmed.

“We are delighted Joe will continue to coach the Wallabies beyond his current contract,” said director of high performance, Peter Horne. “After noting the positive impact Joe has made with the Wallabies playing and coaching staff, we were keen that he stay on after the Lions series.

“Joe expressed to us that he was enjoying his work with the Wallabies while also making clear his need to spend more time at home with his family.”

Schmidt, who is a New Zealander, said: “I am very much enjoying my time with Australian Rugby. The British and Irish Lions is our immediate focus but, with the Rugby Championship following so closely after the Lions series, I understand the need for continuity heading into two away Test matches against South Africa.”

Schmidt replaced Eddie Jones after Australia were knocked out of the Rugby World Cup in the pool stages for the first time in 2023.

The former Ireland head coach oversaw an overhaul of Australia’s squad and the Wallabies finished 2024 well, with wins over England and Wales and a narrow defeat against Ireland in Dublin.

His departure will leave Australia looking for their fourth head coach in five years, after Jones replaced Dave Rennie at the start of 2023.

Other contenders for the role alongside O’Gara would include outgoing Leicester head coach Michael Cheika, who led Australia between 2014 and 2019, plus Queensland Reds head coach Les Kiss and Brumbies head coach Stephen Larkham.