One of the worst kept secrets in rugby right now: Conor O'Shea is going to be the next head coach of Italy.
It has already been announced that the former Ireland fullback will be leaving his role as Harlequins director of rugby at the end of the season. O'Shea succeeding Jacques Brunel appears to be pretty much a fait accompli.
That is despite a role opening up in Munster which many supporters of the province would love to see O'Shea. The southern province is currently conducting a search for a director of rugby.
He might not have been officially announced as Italy head coach but that has not stopped the 45-year-old already having a positive effect on the future of Italian rugby.
According to Midi Olympique, via Gavin Mortimer - our favourite reader of the French rugby paper - O'Shea has convinced Sergio Parisse to put off his international retirement and continue playing until the World Cup in Japan.
Picture credit: Stephen McCarthy / SPORTSFILE
