Friend to coach Ireland's Connacht

Dumped Australian men's rugby sevens coach Andy Friend will join Irish club Connacht on a three-year deal.

His contract was not renewed, with Friend replaced by women's sevens coach Tim Walsh following April's Commonwealth Games.

Friend takes over from New Zealander Kieran Keane, who was released by the province earlier this month, less than 12 months into a three-year contract after the club finished their Pro14 campaign with a 7-14 record.

It will mark another foreign stint for the former Brumbies coach, who has also coached in Japan and with English Premiership side Harlequins.

He will link with former World Cup-winning Wallaby David Nucifora, himself a former coach of the Brumbies, who currently serves as Irish rugby's performance director.

Connacht boast three men - Bundee Aki, Kieran Marmion and Quinn Rouz - in the Irish squad to play three Test against the Wallabies in Australia next month.