Wales' triple Grand Slam-winning coach Warren Gatland is reportedly on a three-man shortlist alongside Sir Clive Woodward to take over as France boss after the World Cup.
The New Zealander was said to be attracting the interest of French rugby chiefs in the last few weeks and reports surfaced their president Bernard Laporte, himself a former coach of Les Bleus, has held talks with the Welsh supremo.
Gatland's 12-year stay in Wales comes to an end after the World Cup and he's already been lined up for jobs elsewhere.
Apart from being heavily linked to head coaching roles with England and France, reports are surfacing in Australia, the 55-year-old former hooker is now also being reported as a contender to take over from Michael Cheika with the Wallabies after the World Cup.
But The Times are reporting Laporte has compiled a three-man shortlist to replace Jacques Brunel at the end of the year, featuring Gatland, England defence coach and former All Blacks boss John Mitchell and England's 2003 World Cup-winning coach Woodward.
It's said Laporte will make approaches in the coming weeks, according to Midi Olympique , providing the French amateur game supports the potential appointment of their first foreign coach.
Gatland is thought to be top of England’s wanted list and The Times go on to say the pressure is growing on the RFU to act fast.
Nigel Melville, the interim chief executive of the RFU, is said to be leading the process with direction from the board.
Melville, who gave Gatland his first coaching break in England with Wasps, said in December that he would speak to Gatland and appoint a panel of experts at the beginning of this year to drive the process, but neither has happened.
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Before their 25-7 win over Ireland this month that sealed a third Grand Slam for Gatland, the former hooker appeared to distance himself from the England job in a pre-match interview with the BBC.
Asked if rugby fans were to see him again in the Six Nations, Gatland replied: "I don't know. I've had conversations with a few people, but nothing concrete."
Asked whether that was England, the New Zealander said: "No, I haven't spoken to England. There's lots of rumours."
And when pressed if he could actually coach England, having been with Wales since 2008, Gatland went on to say: "I would never be allowed across the Bridge again.
"It's not something I'm planning on doing and I haven't thought when my next step is going to be.
"My plan is to finish after the World Cup, take a break and assess what's going to happen after that."
