South African Gert Smal has been added to Declan Kidney's Ireland management team as forwards coach on a three-year deal that includes the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.
After a long playing career that was hindered by South Africa's isolation from the rugby fraternity between 1982 and 1992, the 46-year-old went on to coach in Italy and with the Springboks as assistant to Jake White, culminating in a World Cup win last year.
As forwards coach Smal will assume a similar role to the one he held under White, effectively as Kidney's right-hand man.
"I see it as a great honour to be part of the new Ireland Management," said Smal in an IRFU statement this afternoon. "I am really excited about the prospect of working with Declan Kidney, Paul McNaughton and the other Management.
"Ireland has a strong squad of players and I look forward to working with them in the build up to the next World Cup."
Kidney is "delighted" to have Smal on board. "He comes with a very impressive list of achievements at the highest levels in South African rugby, highlighted of course by his critical role as assistant coach when the Springboks won the World Cup in France last year," added the former Munster coach.
Smal was a flanker for Western Transvaal (1980-1983), Stellenbosch University (1984-1985), SA Gazelles as captain (1984), SA Defence Force (1986-1987), Western Province (1984-1993) and the Junior Springboks (1986).
He featured for the Springboks against a touring New Zealand in 1986 and again when a World Invitation XV (1989) and a Serge Blanco World XV visited South Africa.
He joined Italian club Rovigo in 1986 and was player/coach there until 1990, before returning to South Africa to take up positions with the Border Bulldogs (1998-1999) and Western Province (2000-2002).
His time with the latter produced two Currie Cup wins before he took Super 12 side Stormers to the semi-finals in 2004.
Smal joins national team manager Paul McNaughton in the Ireland set-up, while more appointments, most notably a backs coach and defence coach, will be made before the squad regroups in August.
