Wayne Smith could be set for a return to English club rugby with Harlequins

New Zealand coach Wayne Smith is in talks with Harlequins to become their new coach, Sky sources understand.

Smith, who helped coach the All Blacks to the first back-to-back World Cups victories, left the national side to take a sabbatical after last year's triumph and is known to be keen on a return to club rugby.

The highly-regarded coach was one of the early favourites to replace Stuart Lancaster as England coach before Eddie Jones' appointment.

Conor O'Shea is to leave Quins at the end of the season

But a return to England looks possible again, with negotiations ongoing for him to replace Conor O'Shea, who is to leave Quins at the end of the season.

The 58-year-old, a former centre for New Zealand, was head coach of the All Blacks in 2000 and 2001 before spending three years with Northampton.

He then became Graham Henry's assistant for eight years, culminating in the 2011 World Cup victory, and spent two years as assistant coach at Super Rugby side Chiefs before returning to the All Blacks last year.