Bernard Jackman has expressed some doubt over Racing 92's reported interest in Leinster number 8 Jack Conan.
The 32-year-old, who captained the province in their opening two games of the BKT United Rugby Championship, is reportedly a target for his former coach Stuart Lancaster, who has been in charge of the Parisiens since the summer of 2023.
Conan is out of contract at the province this summer, and Racing have been left with a hole to fill in their back row following the early departure of Springbok captain Siya Kolisi, who has returned to the Sharks in Durban.
However, Jackman says Racing’s interest in the International may hinge on whether or not it fits in with their 'JIFF’ requirements.
"My understanding of it is that Racing are looking for an eight, but their priority is to get an eight who is ‘JIFF’," Jackman told the RTÉ Rugby podcast.
Under the French ‘JIFF’ (Joueurs Issus des Filieres de Formation) regulations, clubs must field an average of 16 players in their matchday squads who have either spent five years playing age-grade rugby at any FFR-affiliated club, or three years with a French professional club's academy by the age of 23.
"They’re quite tight on their foreign-player spots, they’re looking for a ‘JIFF’ eight first and they’ll probably wait to January or February for that, and if that doesn’t happen they may look at a ‘non-JIFF’ eight, which could open up the Jack Conan [link].
"My understanding is that they’re looking for a French-qualified eight first. That’s the way it’s gone, if you watch ROG’s [Ronan O’Gara’s] recruitment, he’s recruiting fellas a year in advance who are ‘JIFF’, who are French qualified, and then he makes his foreign signings later.
"There’s so many foreign players available who want to go to the Top 14, so you can be a bit more choosy around them. Jack Conan would do brilliantly in the Top 14, there’s no doubt, and Lancaster could make great use of him, but at the moment I don’t know if it’s a priority for Racing," he added.
Lancaster (above) left Leinster to become head coach at Racing in the summer of 2023, but the ex-England coach has struggled to turn their fortunes around.
In his first season, the former Champions Cup finalists finished in sixth place in the table with 13 wins and 13 defeats, losing to Bordeaux-Begles in the first round of the play-offs, while they were beaten by Toulouse in the last-16 of Europe.
Racing have also endured a difficult start to the current season, with three defeats from their first four games, and Jackman believes Lancaster is already feeling the pressure.
"Jack Conan is the type of player that Lancaster would love. The problem for Racing at the moment is that they’ve made a bad start to the season. Would Stuart be the one coaching there next season? That’s what people are talking about more in France more than recruitment for Racing.
"They just probably need to get a couple of wins. They lost to La Rochelle at home at the weekend, and it wasn't an amazing season last year. He probably just needs to settle in before they start looking to next year."
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