Former England assistant coach Andy Farrell has been appointed as Ireland's new defence coach.

Farrell is set to take up the new role after this year's Six Nations and will be contracted to the IRFU until 2019. Farrell most recently served as an England assistant coach, but was recently released by new head coach Eddie Jones.

'It's great to have Andy coming into our coaching team,' Ireland coach Joe Schmidt commented. 'The quality of his delivery and breadth of his experience, as well as the positive impact he had when coaching a number of our senior players during the 2013 [British and Irish] Lions tour will add real value for us.'

Farrell said he was excited to take on this new role.

'With a wealth of top-class experienced senior players and a fantastic crop of youngsters pushing hard, the future is very positive for Irish rugby and I can't wait to get started.'

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