The Ospreys are considering upgrading Allen Clarke and making him their permanent head coach.
Northern Irishman Clarke has been in charge at the region as interim coach since the departure of Steve Tandy in January.
It was believed that the former Ulster and Ireland U20 coach would relinquish the position at the end of the season and return to his previous role as forwards coach.
But the Ospreys board have been so impressed by Clarke’s impact in charge – he can make it four successive Guinness Pro14 victories by beating Connacht on Friday night – they are now viewing him as their favoured candidate to continue in the job on a long-term basis.
If the 50-year-old former Ireland hooker is appointed as Tandy’s permanent successor, then it would mean all four of the Welsh regions would start next season with non-Welsh head coaches.
Clarke would join the Scarlets’ New Zealander Wayne Pivac, the Cardiff Blues’ new Australian appointment John Mulvihill, and the Dragons’ Bernard Jackman, Clarke’s fellow former Ireland front rower.
Add in Wales coach Warren Gatland and it would mean that none of the top five head coaching jobs in Wales would be staffed by a Welshman.
After stepping up from his position as forwards coach, Clarke took charge of the Ospreys at the end of January after they were knocked out of the European Champions Cup in the pool stages and were struggling to recover from an awful start to the season in the Pro14.
He lost his first game in charge away to Connacht, but has since put together three victories on the trot, the last of which was against Leinster a fortnight ago. He has also made a notable impression on the squad’s senior players – admiration which has filtered back to the hierarchy.
The Ospreys are still in with a shout of qualification for Champions Cup rugby next season if they can win in their final match of the regular season at the Liberty Stadium, which will be a farewell fixture for Dan Biggar before he leaves for Northampton this summer.
“We are at the point of the season where every game matters now,” said Clarke. “We respect the importance of this fixture to our aspirations for the season and understand that while the bigger picture is important we have to focus one game at a time.
“Get too far ahead of ourselves and we’ll come unstuck. We know that Connacht are a good team, well-prepared and with threats all over the park so they have our utmost respect. We have to make sure we are at the level we were against Leinster. That is the benchmark for us for the rest of the season.”
The Ospreys brought Leinster’s returning Irish Grand Slam players back to earth last time out and will be confident of doing the same to Connacht.
The Irish province will be without Ireland centre Bundee Aki and the visitors lost to Gloucester in the Challenge Cup last weekend.
“Ospreys are in the driving seat in terms of that final Champions Cup qualification spot,” said Connacht defence coach Peter Wilkins. “We see the season as very much alive, but we need to make sure we perform and put them under pressure.”
Ospreys: D Evans; J Hassler, K Fonotia, A Beck, H Dirksen; D Biggar, T Habberfield; N Smith S Otten, D Arhip; B Davies, A Wyn Jones (capt); G Mercer, S Cross, J King. Replacements: I Phillips, R Jones, M Fia, A Beard, M Morris, M Aubrey, S Davies, O Watkin.
Connacht: T O’Halloran; N Adeolokun, E Griffin, P Robb, M Healy; J Carty, K Marmion; D Buckley, S Delahunt, C Carey; U Dillane, J Cannon; S O’Brien, J Butler (capt), E McKeon. Replacements: D Heffernan, P McCabe, D Robertson-McCoy, G Thornbury, J Muldoon, C Blade, C Ronaldson, D Leader.
Referee: B Whitehouse (Wales).
