Former Leinster senior coach Stuart Lancaster has made a return to Irish rugby after it was confirmed he will take over as the head coach of Connacht.
The former England head coach, who departed from his most recent role at Racing 92 in February with the club struggling both domestically and in Europe, has signed a two-year deal to succeed Pete Wilkins who resigned in April.
Lancaster will also have responsibility for defence, with Rod Seib joining as the new attack coach.
Cullie Tucker, who had been in interim charge for the conclusion of the season, will remain as scrum and contact coach, with lineout and maul coach John Muldoon also retained as part of the backroom team.
It represents a coup for Connacht, who finished 13th in the BKT United Rugby Championship after a highly inconsistent season.
A final-day victory over Zebre ended a five-game losing streak and ensured they finished above Ulster in the table. They exited the Challenge Cup at the quarter-final stage, coughing up a first half lead to a Racing 92 side that played with 14 men for 67 minutes following a red card to right wing try-scorer Wame Naituvi.
Lancaster had the top job in English rugby between 2012 and 2015 before linking up with Leinster in 2016 where he would go on to enjoy a successful time with the province.
During his seven seasons in Dublin, Leinster won the 2018 Champions Cup as well as four successive Pro14 titles.
The 55-year-old took up the offer to become head coach of Racing 92 for the start of the 2023/24 season, but lasted just 18 months in Paris after the club failed to reach the knockout stages of this season's Investec Champions Cup, finishing second from bottom in their pool.
They also struggled domestically and sat 12th in the Top 14, just two points above the relegation zone when he departed.
"I’m hugely excited to be joining Connacht Rugby and begin this new chapter of my life in the West of Ireland with my wife Nina," he said in a statement.
"Connacht is a club with a proud identity, a passionate supporter base, and enormous potential both on and off the field, so I’m honoured and humbled to be given the opportunity to lead the professional men’s team programme.
"I’m a firm believer in creating an environment that enables players to thrive and realise their potential, while playing a brand of rugby that inspires the community of which they represent."
Prior to joining Leinster, Lancaster spent four years as England head coach. They finished as Six Nations runners-up four times in a row under his stewardship and he departed after they failed to qualify from their Rugby World Cup pool in 2015.
