Conor O’Shea reaches agreement to become new Italy coach

Harlequins director of rugby Conor O'Shea has reached an agreement to become the new coach of Italy from June on a four-year deal, the Italian rugby federation has announced.

The former Irish fullback began his six year stint at Harlequins in March 2010, and after winning the Aviva Premiership in 2012, the European Challenge Cup and the LV Cup during his time at the club he announced in January that he would be leaving at the end of the season.

The Italian Rugby Federation announced on Friday that the 45-year-old Irishman would succeed Jacques Brunel, taking former England back Mike Catt to Rome as his attack coach.

O’Shea had been strongly linked to the job for several months, so his appointment comes as no surprise.

His first task will be to help oversee Italy’s summer tour to Argentina, the United States and Canada.

The Azzurri this season finished bottom of the Six Nations Championship for an 11th time in 17 seasons. They conceded 224 points and 29 tries in five games, while their final two fixtures against Ireland and Wales saw them beaten 58-15 and 67-14, respectively.

In a statement posted on the Italian Federation and Harlequins websites, O’Shea said: “As I said when I announced that I would be leaving, I feel the end of this season is the right time for me to take on a new challenge.

“And I am honoured, humbled and excited that I will be working with everyone in Italian rugby to ensure they can achieve on the undoubted potential they have as a rugby nation.

“I spent many years in the 1990s playing against a great Italian side, and I know there is the ability and will within this current group of players and the FIR to ensure that the current team can become the best Italian team in its history, but that is for another time.

“For me now, there is a job to finish at Harlequins and to ensure we finish this season as well as we can and see if we can add some more silverware to the trophy cabinet at this great club. I will say my goodbyes then, and not before.”

Quins, meanwhile, say they will announce a new director of rugby “in due course,” and will not make any comment until such time.

Catt returns to rugby after leaving his post as an England assistant coach in December following the host nation’s spectacular 2015 World Cup flop when they failed to progress beyond the pool stage.

Catt, Andy Farrell and Graham Rowntree all departed the Rugby Football Union, with new England head coach Eddie Jones recruiting Steve Borthwick and Paul Gustard to work with him.

And Stephen Aboud, currently the Irish Rugby Football Union’s head of technical direction, has also been appointed by the FIR as head of training from August 1st.

FIR president Alfredo Gavazzi added: “The appointment of this new head coach, his assistant and the head of training is a crucial turning point for the Italian Rugby Federation.

“We have identified three of the highest-profile figures, three men who are in possession of what we believe are the most suitable qualities that can contribute to the development of our team.

“O’Shea is a coach with a record of success on the pitch and strong managerial skills, who will add extra value to all the various components of the Italian rugby set-up.

“We are excited to give Conor, Mike Catt and Stephen Aboud, who will play a crucial role in the development of Italian rugby, a warm welcome.”