Ronan O’Gara took time out of La Rochelle’s game with Bordeaux-Begles at the weekend to give a tackling lesson to a ballboy.
The match was still going on when O’Gara started conversing with a youngster on the sidelines, with both gesturing using a wrapping motion and the ballboy nodding his head.
O’Gara then offered to give a short tackling course, allowing him a couple of attempts.
One was around the waist of the La Rochelle head coach before he went slightly lower around the 46-year-old’s legs, seemingly impressing the former Ireland international.
📢 Ronan O'Gara always has time to give coaching tips to youngsters, even during a match.
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A lovely moment. 👏pic.twitter.com/amj09qCpa5
— Planet Rugby (@PlanetRugby) March 30, 2023
One of the best young coaches around
The Munster legend has become one of the most highly-regarded coaches in the game following stints with Racing 92 and the Crusaders before taking charge of La Rochelle in 2019.
He guided them to the Champions Cup final in 2021, which they subsequently lost 22-17 to Toulouse following Levani Botia’s first-half red card.
Unperturbed by that defeat, O’Gara’s men repeated the trick by reaching the showpiece event where they would face much-fancied Leinster.
The Irish province were heavy favourites but the French outfit put in a magnificent display, with Arthur Retiere’s last-minute try claiming a 24-21 triumph.
Hadn't played scrum-half for four years before @staderochelais' recent injury crisis…
Came on and scored to claim the #HeinekenChampionsCup as his last act for the club 🤩@ArthurRetiere, what a man 🙌#MondayMotivation pic.twitter.com/2hYLgHidHV
— Heineken Champions Cup (@ChampionsCup) June 13, 2022
Among France’s and Europe’s best
Not content with just that Champions Cup title, La Rochelle are ambitious for more and were disappointed to miss out on the Top 14 crown in 2022.
This season, they are currently in second place domestically, six points behind Toulouse, and look certain to qualify for the play-offs.
They have also once again shone on the continent, finishing top of their pool and earning a home last-16 tie, where they will face Gloucester this weekend.
O’Gara is looking to create a dynasty at La Rochelle having signed a contract until at least 2027 and, you never know, he could at some point by coaching that ballboy in the first team.