Leinster have announced that Leicester Tigers head coach Matt O'Connor will be their new boss.
The 42-year-old Australian has signed a three-year deal with the Irish province and will replace Joe Schmidt, who has become the new head coach of Ireland.
O'Connor will end five years of success at Leicester at the end of this season and begin his new position on July 1.
He maintained that his focus would stay firmly at Welford Road until the end of the season, but said he was looking forward to joining a "first class" set-up this summer.
"I am delighted to join Leinster," he said. "The playing staff, coaching team and facilities are first class and I have been hugely encouraged by the hunger within the province to push on despite enjoying an unprecedented period of success on the field in recent years.
"I look forward to working with the province's established and burgeoning talent from the renowned Leinster Academy and I am also pleased to work with the current coaching team who have played such a key part in the province's success over the last four years.
"At this time, my focus remains with Leicester, but I would like to thank the Leinster Board for this vote of confidence and my family and I are hugely excited about starting this new chapter in our lives."
Leinster chief executive Mick Dawson said he expected O'Connor to carry on the reigning Heineken Cup champions' recent success.
"We're delighted that Matt has agreed to become head coach," he said.
"Matt joins Leinster with an impressive pedigree at club level with the Leicester Tigers.
"We were impressed by Matt's vision for Leinster and speaking to him it is clear that he is excited about the opportunity. We look forward to working with him over the coming years."
