Leinster are bracing themselves for the potential loss of Stuart Lancaster at the end of the season.
Already planning on being without skipper and talisman Johnny Sexton after the World Cup, it was reported tonight that Lancaster, 52, is poised to agree terms over the weekend with Racing 92 boss Jacky Lorenzetti to move to Paris next summer.
The former England supremo has been a hugely positive force for Leinster, working alongside head coach Leo Cullen as the province's senior coach since joining in September 2016.
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The Blues failed to win a trophy in his first year on board but then won the domestic and European double the following season.
Speaking last week about the constant speculation about Lancaster's future, Cullen hinted there could be changes coming in what will be a World Cup year in 2023.
Cullen said that the Cumbrian was staying "at the moment anyway - like us all, the season starts off and that’s not just Stu, there’s tonnes of people out of contract," remarked the Blues boss.
“We’ll see how it all plays out, it’s the nature of every season and people look in with prying eyes from the outside.
"It’s just like Felipe (Contepomi), Andrew Goodman comes in. Seán O’Brien is finishing as Denis Leamy is finishing here, there’s that timing piece.
“Always at World Cup time there’s always quite a lot of movement as well, in terms of coaches, so you think the 2023 World Cup is this piece on the horizon and there’s all sorts of movement.
"England are looking for coaches, some of the French coaches might move on.
“Every country has something different, New Zealand have gone early. Everyone’s looking at what’s happened, it changes so bloody fast doesn’t it?
“There’s always these things going on in the background.”
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