Former England rugby international Mike Catt is set to join the Irish coaching team as attack coach after the Rugby World Cup later in the year.
The 76-times capped international, who won a World Cup as a player with England in 2003, will join his former English coaching colleague Andy Farrell. Farrell is set to take over as Ireland head coach once the World Cup ends, with Joe Schmidt stepping aside.
Catt is currently part of Conor O'Shea's coaching team with Italy. As a player he won those 76 caps between 1994 and 2007, including a solitary Lions cap on the victorious South Africa tour in 1997.
Catt was renowned as an extremely versatile player - earning multiple caps at outhalf, centre, fullback and wing.
47-year-old Catt's addition puts a finishing touch on Andy Farrell's new-look Irish backroom team. John Fogarty is set to leave his post with Leinster to become scrum coach.
There are a couple of names staying on - Simon Easterby will continue in his role as forwards specialist, with Richie Murphy continuing as kicking and skills coach.
Farrell has been a key cog in the Irish team that claimed the 2018 Six Nations Grand Slam, and that which saw off the All Blacks last year.
Ireland kick-start their World Cup campaign on the 22nd of September when they take on Scotland, before facing the hosts Japan six days later. Russia and then Samoa are the final opponents at the group stage.
If they make it out of the group, a tough task will be almost certain - one of New Zealand or South Africa will likely await in the quarter-finals.
Ireland’s first warm-up game for the tournament will be against Italy (Catt's current employers) on Saturday, 10th August before subsequent games against England and back-to-back ties Wales. Those latter games will take place on consecutive Saturdays – in Cardiff on August 31st and Dublin on September 7th.
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