Harlequins have not denied the club is in talks with former New Zealand coach Wayne Smith to become their new director of rugby.

The 58-year-old, who has Premiership experience having coached Northampton Saints for three seasons earlier in his career, is believed to be interested in a return to English rugby and is reported to be in ongoing negotiations with the Stoop outfit to replace departing chief Conor O'Shea.

Smith helped the All Blacks become the first team to lift back-to-back World Cup titles last year, assisting first Graham Henry and then Steve Hansen.

Quins have remained tight-lipped over their recruitment plans, but had promised a wide-reaching search for their new man.

O'Shea said this week that his own future would not become clear for another "few months, yet".

"We will not be making any comment until a new appointment has been made," said a club spokesman.

"It wouldn’t be fair on the other people in the process for us to comment on a specific individual."

O'Shea takes his side to Gloucester this weekend looking for only a second win at Kingsholm since February 1999.

But he is confident of a result if his men perform for 80 minutes.

“It will be an unbelievably tough game. We do not often win there and the weather doesn’t look like it will be great,” he said.

"We know how tough their pack is and Billy Twelvetrees and James Hook are playing very well in the backs at the moment.

“I’d like to think that if we can play for 80 minutes - both sides of the ball - then we have a great group of players who will be tough to beat.”