Saracens line up Gaffney

Saracens expect to appoint their new director of rugby by the end of the week, with former Munster coach Alan Gaffney the favourite to succeed Steve Diamond. Gaffney is out of work after losing his place on the Australia management team following the sacking of head coach Eddie Jones in December.

The London club have interviewed four candidates for the post, which looks more attractive than it did six weeks ago when, before the arrival of Jones as the caretaker director of rugby, the club was in danger of being relegated from the Premiership.

Friday's victory over bottom side Leeds secured Saracens' current status, having recorded three consecutive league wins under Jones's guidance.

Gaffney fulfils one of the requirements for Diamond's successor; his considerable experience of European rugby. The former Italy coach, John Kirwan, and Nigel Melville, who has been the director of rugby at Wasps and Gloucester, were interviewed last week, but Gaffney, who spent one season as the assistant coach of Leinster in 2001 before taking over at Munster for three years, is believed to be the leading candidate.

"I can confirm that Alan Gaffney was one of the people we spoke to," said Saracens' chief executive Mark Sinderberry. "We are in the process of finalising who our new director of rugby will be and we expect to be making an announcement within the next couple of days."

Gaffney left Munster last summer to return to Australia, where he had been the assistant coach of New South Wales for three seasons from 1997, after being asked by Jones to join the Wallabies' management team as assistant coach in charge of back play. When Jones was dismissed at the end of Australia's worst year in terms of results since the early 1970s, the former Bath director of rugby John Connolly took over and appointed his own team of assistants.

Jones was brought in by Saracens to help stave off relegation as Diamond's reign ended in a flurry of defeats. He was never a candidate to take charge on a permanent basis, having accepted an offer to become the coach of Queensland Reds from the end of the Super 14 series, but he has advised the club on the appointment of a rugby director.

Ireland flanker Simon Easterby last night had a brain scan after being knocked out during the defeat by Wasps in Sunday's Powergen Cup final at Twickenham. As it was the third injury to his face and head this season his club, Llanelli Scarlets, arranged the precautionary scan.

London Irish director of rugby Brian Smith faces a lengthy touchline ban after being charged yesterday by the Rugby Football Union with verbally abusing officials during and after the A league match against Gloucester at Hartpury College last month.