Outgoing IRFU director of high performance David Nucifora is returning home to take up an advisory role with Rugby Australia.
In the wake of the Wallabies' disastrous 2023 World Cup, Rugby Australia have appointed Peter Horne as their new director of high performance.
The Sydney-born Horne, not to be confused with the Scottish rugby international, has spent the past 11 years as World Rugby's director of high performance. He has also previously worked with Saracens and Samoa.
Alongside this announcement, RA confirmed that Nucifora would be rejoining as a high performance advisor once his ten-year tenure with Ireland concludes next summer.
Nucifora has served as Irish rugby's high performance director since 2014, during which the men's national team secured three Six Nations titles, including two Grand Slams, and reached No 1 in the world.
In reporting his return down under, the Rugby.au website wrote: "Nucifora is credited as the architect behind Ireland's success in becoming the number one men's XV side in the world."
While widely praised by some observers for his stewardship of the men's professional game, Nucifora has faced criticism due to the results of the women's XV national team and focus on Sevens under his watch.
Prior to his work with Ireland, Nucifora coached the Brumbies and the Blues in Super Rugby and was general manager of Australia's high-performance unit for five years. Capped twice for the Wallabies as a player, he was a member of the 1991 World Cup winning squad.
He is due to be replaced as IRFU high-performance director by former Ireland out-half David Humphreys in summer 2024.
