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A bit of a bolt from the blue.http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/8394164.stm
Conor O'Shea is set to be named as Harlequins' new director of rugby, BBC Sport understands.
The 39-year-old, formerly a director of rugby with London Irish who has also worked for the Rugby Football Union, is something of a surprise choice.
He has been out of the sport for the past 18 months, working for the English Institute of Sport.
Dean Richards resigned from the post in August as details emerged of his role in the fake blood scandal.
Quins also considered former Wasps and British and Irish Lions coach Ian McGeechan, former Scotland coach Frank Hadden, South Africa assistant coach Gary Gold and Quins assistant coach Tony Diprose.
But they have opted for the former Ireland full-back, who is a highly respected figure in the game despite his recent absence.
O'Shea retired as a player in 2000 before joining the coaching staff at London Irish. He led London Irish to the Powergen Cup in 2002 and then took up a role with the RFU as director of regional academies before joining the EIS in 2008.
The "Bloodgate" scandal which led to Richards's downfall occurred when Quins winger Tom Williams was ordered to feign injury in the Heineken Cup quarter-final against Leinster on 12 April by chewing a fake blood capsule, thus allowing goal-kicker Nick Evans to return to the field.
Williams later had his lip cut in an attempt to make the injury appear genuine.
Richards and physio Steph Brennan were initially cleared of any wrongdoing at a disciplinary hearing in July but were heavily punished by a subsequent appeals committee in August.
Former England number eight Richards was banned from coaching worldwide and chief executive Mark Evans initially said the club were undecided as to whether they would replace him.[/b]