Former Chiefs and Maori All Blacks forward Jono Gibbes is set to take over as head coach of European heavyweights Ulster after signing a two-year deal with the club.
Gibbes has been plying his trade as forwards coach at Clermont Auvergne since joining them from Leinster where he spent six years, helping them win three Heineken Cups.
Making his Super Rugby debut in 2001, Gibbes career was plagued by injury which saw his playing years cut short, making 68 appearances for the Chiefs and eight for the Maori All Blacks.
The 40-year-old said he was looking forward to working under Ulster's director of rugby Les Kiss.
"The respect I have for Les as a coach and person was one of my main reasons for making this decision," said Gibbs.
To date, Ulster has had a relatively poor season after being eliminated from the European Champions Cup and coming sixth in the Pro12.
"Les sold his vision of where he wants to take Ulster over the next few years. Ulster is a team that I know well, having come up against them on a number of occasions.
"The Clermont-Ulster games this season gave me an insight into the strengths of the squad and it's exciting to think that I'll be part of that environment from next season."
The Ulster line-up is a star-studded one which includes a number of Ireland's first team players as well as explosive former All Black Charles Piutau who joined the side in 2016.
Newshub.