The Irish Rugby Football Union has announced that Declan Kidney has been confirmed as the new head coach of the national team.
The 48-year-old current Munster coach has been invited to sign a contract which will see him lead Ireland up to and including the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand.
Due to Munster’s Heineken Cup final, the IRFU has decided that Kidney should not take part in the forthcoming summer tour fixtures against the Barbarians, New Zealand and Australia, nor in the selection and preparation of that squad.
Management and player squads relating to the summer tour and Ireland’s participation in the Churchill Cup will be revealed shortly.
Commenting on the announcement, Kidney said, 'There is no greater honour for any coach than to lead his own country.
'I have had that privilege at several levels of the game in Ireland from schools and U-19s as well as working with the senior Ireland team and I am delighted to have this opportunity and to be here at what is the pinnacle of my career'.
'I have worked with many exceptional players during my career at both international and provincial level and there is no doubt that we have the talent in Ireland to be successful at the highest level.
'The challenge going forward for the Ireland team and Irish rugby as a whole is to continue the growth and success on the field. I am excited about the challenge and looking forward to working with the players.
'My focus now for the next three weeks will be totally on the Munster team and the preparation for the Heineken European Cup final.'
IRFU chief executive Philip Browne said: 'The record of Declan Kidney speaks for itself and it was obvious from the very beginning of this process that he was one of the main contenders to lead Ireland to the next Rugby World Cup in 2011.
'His ability to achieve success and develop players in the ever increasing competitive arena of professional rugby is proven and the IRFU is delighted to have made this appointment.
'While the need to make the appointment as soon as was practicable was important, the IRFU was conscious of keeping any disruption to the preparations of the Munster team to a minimum.'
Kidney is one of the most respected and decorated coaches in Ireland and has previously coached the Ireland Schools and the Ireland Under-19 teams, most notably the Ireland team that won the FIRA World Cup in 1998 in a side that included current internationals Brian O’Driscoll, Donncha O’Callaghan and Paddy Wallace.
Kidney continued up the coaching ladder when he took the position of head coach with Munster, bringing them to their first Heineken Cup final in 2000. Munster reached their second final in 2002 and following that, Kidney took a role as assistant coach to the Ireland team, working with them during the 2003 World Cup.
Kidney then coached Leinster for one season, bringing them to the quarter-finals of the Heineken Cup in 2005 before returning to Munster.
Kidney’s success has continued with his home province where he guided the team to a memorable victory in the competition in 2006 when Munster beat Biarritz in the Millennium Stadium to claim their first Heineken Cup.
He now has the chance to acheice Heineken Cup glory with Munster once more when they play Toulouse in the final on 24 May, before turning his attentions to the national side.
