Former Mullingar player coach Schmidt gets Ireland job

Former Mullingar player coach Joe Schmidt has today been officially announced as Ireland's new head coach by the IRFU, stepping up from his Leinster position after beating competition from Les Kiss and Ewen McKenzie for the Ireland post.

He succeeds Declan Kidney who was removed on April 2 after presiding over a dismal fifth-place finish in the RBS 6 Nations.

The New Zealander spent a couple of seasons in Mulingar during the early 1990s as a player/coach.

It is understood he has offered a three-year contract that runs until 2016 - a tenure that will include the 2015 World Cup hosted by England.