French Top 14 club La Rochelle confirmed former All Black Jonathan Gibbes as their new director of rugby.
The 41-year-old has signed a four-year contract with the west coast club and been tasked with “developing the performance of the professional team” and “developing the professional team’s training”.
Gibbes was assistant coach at Clermont in 2014-2017, helping the club win the Top 14 title in his final season there.
He moved to Irish province Ulster in February 2017 before returning to New Zealand to coach Waikato, who officially released Gibbes in June allowing him to sign with La Rochelle.
La Rochelle, who reached the Top 14 semi-finals last year, sit sixth in the league seven points behind leaders Clermont.