SYDNEY (AFP) - Ewen McKenzie, unwanted as coach of the New South Wales Waratahs next year, will meet the owner of French rugby club Stade Francais within a fortnight, reports said here Thursday.

McKenzie, a one-time candidate as Wallabies' coach, is without a club next year after NSW Rugby said this week his contract would not be renewed after five years in the job.

The former Wallaby prop has presided over 72 matches and, with a finals appearance in 2005 and a semi-final in 2006, and will end his association as the most successful NSW coach in Super history regardless how the rest of 2008 pans out.

But reports have linked him with Stade Francais, currently third in the French Top 14 championship.

The Sydney Morning Herald on Thursday said McKenzie will meet Stade Francais owner Max Guazzini in Paris later this month.

The newspaper said McKenzie has already met French recruiter Pierre Vandome about the head coaching role at the Paris-based Stade Francais.

It said the pair had a breakfast meeting in Sydney on Wednesday after Vandome received a telephone update on the opportunity from Guazzini, who requested that McKenzie fly to France as soon as possible to negotiate a possible deal.

McKenzie would not discuss the development on Thursday as he prepares the Waratahs' for their Super 14 game against the Auckland Blues here on Saturday.

Vandome confirmed to the Herald McKenzie's planned meeting with Guazzini in Paris.

"We are going to send him over next weekend to Paris for a short meeting with Max," Vandome told the Herald.

"After that, whatever decision is made is up to Max to make. I cross my fingers, but I hope when he flies over to France by the Tuesday after we will know.

"Max wants to meet the coach before he makes a decision."

Vandome said Guazzini was impressed by McKenzie's credentials despite NSW's poor 13th place in last year's Super 14, and that he was in strong contention to replace ex-French scrum-half Fabien Galthie as coach.

The Herald said in McKenzie's favour is his experience of living in France from 1992 to 1994, his ability to speak French, and his first-hand understanding of French rugby culture after playing for the Paris University club.

"Everything is in the basket for Ewen to get a job," Vandome said. "Max likes that he has experience of France, plus his age, his knowledge and everything else.

"He knows Paris. He played in Paris. He used to live in Paris. He has a good reputation for the French way."