Andy Farrell will become Ireland's new defence coach in time for the three-test tour to South Africa during the summer a signing a four year contract that will take him through the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan.

He takes over from Les Kiss, who stepped down after the 2015 Rugby World Cup to assume his current role as Director of Rugby and head coach at Ulster. Farrell, whose son Owen is an England international, won't be able to work with Ireland during the Six Nations because of one or two issues relating to the winding down of his current contract with the English RFU.

The new England coach Eddie Jones is in the throes of replacing the backroom team. Farrell’s capture represents a significant coup for the IRFU. He joins the Ireland coaching set-up having been assistant coach with England from 2011 to 2015 as well as defence coach for the 2013 series winning Lions squad in Australia, where he made a sizeable impression on several Ireland players.

Prior to joining the England set-up we was an assistant coach to Mark McCall Aviva Premiership side Saracens. A dual code player he made 370 appearances for Wigan, won 34 caps for Great Britain and 11 for England before switching to rugby union. He won eight caps for England while with Saracens playing three matches at the 2007 Rugby World Cup.

Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt said: "It's great to have Andy coming into our coaching team. The quality of his delivery and breadth of his experience as well as the positive impact he had when coaching a number of our senior players during the 2013 Lions tour will add real value for us."

Andy Farrell admitted: “To have this opportunity to work with a very talented management and playing group really excites me. With a wealth of top class experienced senior players and a fantastic crop of youngsters pushing hard the future is very positive for Irish rugby and I can’t wait to get started.”