Jono Gibbes has been confirmed as La Rochelle’s Director of Rugby, three months after he was granted an early release from Ulster to return to his native New Zealand for family reasons.
The 41-year-old was named as Waikato head coach shortly after his Ulster departure was made public, but the Top 14 club have announced he will take up a Director of Rugby role in November on a four-year contract.
After negotiations with Waikato, a compromise has been reached that will see Gibbes depart for France at the end of the national provincial competition in New Zealand.
Gibbes signed a two-year deal in February 2017 to join Ulster’s coaching team following a stint with Clermont Auvernge and a highly successful period as Leinster forwards coach between 2008 and 2014, before revealing his departure in March.
"Being a long way from home for the last 10 years has made me prioritise things above my career and so I'll be returning at the end of this season for family reasons," he said at the time.
However he will be making a quick return to Europe and La Rochelle, with the club statement indicating his long-term interest in the role.
"Stade Rochelais is proud and happy to formalise the recruitment of Jono Gibbes as Sports Director for the next four seasons," the statement read.
"The club made the arrival of the former head coach of the Ulster [its] priority. For his part, Jono Gibbes showed great interest in the Stade Rochelais project but had to go to New Zealand for family reasons, where he had committed for a few months with Waikato."
