Another rumoured candidate has ruled out Munster return

Racing 92 coach Mike Prendergast has poured cold water on a return to Munster as head coach after Ronan O'Gara linked him to the soon-to-be-vacant role.

Current Munster boss Johann van Graan is set to depart Limerick for Bath in the Gallagher Premiership at the end of the season. It's set tongues wagging as to who will replace him at the famous Irish province, who are eager to start winning silverware again after a number of barren years for the side.

O'Gara had ruled himself out of the role in recent weeks, as has fellow Munster legend Paul O'Connell - Ireland's forward coach.

The La Rochelle boss did however link his close friend and former Munster teammate Prendergast with the job. O'Gara wrote in an Irish Examiner column in December that: “Mike Prendergast and Graham Rowntree [current Munster forwards coach] could work well" when discussing the Munster job.

Now Prendergast - who is the backs coach with Racing 92 in Paris - has seemingly ruled out a return in an interview with The French Rugby Podcast.

"No, there's nothing [in that]. Obviously there's a couple of Munster coaches leaving at home at there's an array of Irish coaches that have gone abroad in France and England.

"Once coaches move on it's a natural a reaction to [link them]. We've coaches in France in La Rochelle and Racing... It's more that than anything else.

"I'm very tight with Rog. We call each a couple of times a week, exchanging rugby philosophies and general chit chat.

"It's in terms of that [the Munster job] no. He [Rog] is just filling his column."

There's no doubt that Prendergast has the experience and acumen to take over the top job at a major European club.

Prior to his current role in Paris, the 44-year-old worked at Grenoble, Toulon, Oyonnax and Stade Francais.