Munster have appointed former Springbok Johan 'Rassie' Erasmus as director of rugby.
The 36-cap international has been given a three-year deal, which will commence on 1 July.
The 43-year-old is currently general manager of high performance at South African rugby, a position he has held since 2012.
It is not yet clear what role current head coach Anthony Foley will play under the South African, who is expected to bring in his own backroom staff. Foley last month signed an extended contract until 2017.
Munster are currently seventh in the Pro12 table and scrapping to secure qualification for next year's Champions Cup.
Erasmus said: "It is a huge honour to have been appointed by Munster Rugby in the newly created role of director of rugby.
"It is an opportunity which comes with a huge responsibility, not only to the club who has a proud 137-year history, but also the supporters and the wider community.
"It is a challenge which I humbly accepted but with a clear desire to use all my past experience as a player, coach and administrative high performance manager, to make Munster Rugby one of the top rugby clubs in Europe.
Munster Rugby CEO Garrett Fitzgerald said: "We are delighted to announce Rassie Erasmus as Munster Rugby's Director of Rugby. In recruiting Rassie, we are securing the services of a world-class individual who was the standout candidate for this newly-created position.
"The director of rugby role will lead Munster's senior team, academy and coaches to deliver Munster's strategic plan, with ultimate responsibility for team performance and results.
"The role will have overall responsibility for defining on-field strategy and ensuring its implementation.
"We look forward to welcoming Rassie at the start of the 2016/17 season in what will be an exciting time for the province as we operate from our new High Performance Centre in UL."
In a playing career that spanned eight years, Erasmus lined out for the Free State Cheetahs and the Golden Lions in the Currie Cup, and for the Cats and the Stormers in the Super 12. He served as captain of the Cats, leading them to the 2000 Super 12 semi-finals, and also captained the Springboks in 1999.
After retirement, Erasmus moved into coaching and guided the Cheetahs to Currie Cup glory in 2005 - their first since 1976.
The following year, his Cheetahs side shared the Currie Cup trophy with the Blue Bulls and he became the first ever coach of the Cheetahs Super Rugby franchise when they were accepted into the Super 14 that year.
In 2007, the Eastern Cape native served as technical adviser for the Springboks during their Rugby World Cup-winning campaign in France before becoming head coach of the Stormers and director of coaching at Western Province.
Erasmus served a second term as technical adviser to the Springboks during the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand before assuming the general manager high performance role.
