CONFIRMED: Conor O'Shea and Mike Catt to coach Italy - Ruck

CONFIRMED: Conor O’Shea and Mike Catt to coach Italy

  • Harlequins director of rugby Conor O’Shea will take control of the Italian national team from June
  • Former England coach Mike Catt will join O’Shea in Rome as attack coach
The Italian Rugby Union has today confirmed that RTE pundit and Harlequins Director of Rugby Conor O’Shea will take charge of their national team from June of this year on a four-year contract.

The appointment of O’Shea comes as no surprise as he had been strongly linked to the Italy job for several months.

The former Ireland fullback, who led Quins to the Aviva Premiership title in 2012, will take former England player and coach Mike Catt to Rome as his attack coach. Catt, who was famously bulldozed by Jonah Lomu, was part of the coaching staff for England’s doomed 2015 World Cup campaign, leaving his role after Eddie Jones took over as England head coach.

Italy finished bottom in this year’s Six Nations after losing all five of their matches– the 11th time in their 17 tournament appearances that the Azzurri have collected the wooden spoon.