French media outlet L'Équipe is reporting that Stuart Lancaster has already signed a four-year contract with Racing 92 from next season - and speculating that Felipe Contepomi could join him after the World Cup.
Speculation is rife that Leinster's senior coach is on his way to the Top 14 giants at the end of the season as Laurent Travers' replacement as head coach, with Travers taking on a director of rugby role after the 2023 World Cup.
Lancaster, a former England supremo, has been an influential figure at Leinster for the past seven years - helping the province back to the top of the pile in Europe in 2018.
READ MORE: Chris Farrell steps away from Munster over alleged rape case in France
But it now looks certain that his time within Leo Cullen's set-up will end next summer.
The Blues face Benetton in their second round URC clash at the RDS tonight (7.35pm) and, in his pre-match press conference, Cullen was quizzed on Lancaster's future.
A report in L'Équipe said: "According to our information, Lancaster signed his contract on Thursday.
"By attracting such a figure, recognised by his peers as one of the finest coaches in Europe, Racing marks the beginning of a new era.
"Until now, (owner) Jacky Lorenzetti had never entrusted the keys to Le Plessis to English speaker, but he had expressed in recent months his desire to open up to this possibility.
"Lancaster knows where he is stepping. In 2018, he came to spend three days at Racing."
The report added that Contepomi, who left Leinster in his role as backs coach at the end of last season to join up with Michael Cheika's Argentina set-up, could be a part of Lancaster's backroom team after the World Cup which takes place on French soil in a year's time.
With long-serving Leinster CEO Mick Dawson handing over the reins in the near future, Cullen is part of an organisation that facing into a period of real transition.
Speaking yesterday, the Blues head coach said: “You think of some of the top end players that have played for the team, and how will they be replaced?
"Like, Brian O’Driscoll, he’s one of the top players but the show rolls on. That’s what happened. The show rolls on. Someone else steps in.
“Garry Ringrose is captaining the team (tonight), he was a young player at that stage when Brian was finishing up.
"He comes into the team and off he goes, plays for Ireland and does wonderful things and all the rest. That’s just the nature of it.”
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