The Irish Rugby Football Union have officially announced the appointment of Joe Schmidt as Ireland head coach.
rugbyweek
New Zealander Joe Schmidt, who has coached Leinster to two Heineken Cup titles has replaced former Ireland head coach Declan Kidney.
Kidney’s five year stint as Ireland coach ended after this year’s disappointing Six Nations campaign.
Before coaching Leinster Schmidt was backs coach at Clermont Auvergne and then joined Leinster and led them to Heineken Cup titles in 2011 and 2012.
Schmidt signed a one-year contract extension with Leinster last year which would have taken him to the end of the 2013/14 season.
Leinster have booked a place in the Amlin Challenge Cup final after they beat Biarritz on Saturday.
They have also qualified for the Pro12 play-offs.
The Irish Rugby Football Union have said that they will release further details on Schmidt’s deal later today although it is expected that he will have signed a deal keeping him in Ireland until the end of the 2016 season.
Leicester Tigers coach Matt O’Connor is the current favourite to replace Schmidt at Leinster.