Lyn Jones has emerged as a contender for the Harlequins job as a successor to current director of rugby Conor O’Shea.

Newport Gwent Dragons chief Jones was spotted at Quins last Thursday, just two days before the Dragons’ impressive victory over Gloucester in the European Challenge Cup quarter-finals.

Jones missed that victory with the region explaining he was ill. He was also absent from a question and answer session with Dragons supporters at Rodney Parade on Monday evening.

Current Dragons head coach Kingsley Jones stepped up on both occasions and would be favourite to replace Jones if a vacancy was created.

Nick Easter, the Quins and former England No.8, claimed on Sky Sports that he bumped into Jones at the club last week.

“Lyn Jones was interestingly down at the Stoop on Thursday when we were doing our team run and I said to him good luck to him,” said Easter.

Quins have a vacancy this summer after announcing that former Ireland full-back O’Shea is leaving the Aviva Premiership club.

It is expected that he will take over as the new Italy coach in succession to Jacques Brunel.

Jones has a year remaining on his current contract with the Dragons after taking charge three years ago.

He has wide experience as a coach, including a stint in charge of London Welsh who he guided to promotion to the Aviva Premiership, although they were immediately relegated.

But the Challenge Cup run aside, it has been a difficult season for Jones with the Dragons having won just four matches in the Guinness Pro12.

Former England head coach Stuart Lancaster has also been linked with Quins after being sacked by England after last year’s World Cup.