O'Donovan gets Ireland A position

O'Donovan was Ireland assistant coach during Eddie O'Sullivan's reign

Niall O'Donovan has been appointed as assistant coach of the Ireland A side.

O'Donovan, Ireland assistant coach during Eddie O'Sullivan's reign, will work with national A coach Michael Bradley and team manager Joey Miles.

Limerick man O'Donovan worked with Bradley as part of the coaching team for last summer's Ireland tour to New Zealand and Australia.

O'Donovan took charge of the full Ireland side on their tour to Japan in 2005 when O'Sullivan was on Lions duty.

Ireland A side will play games against England Saxons and Scotland A in February as well as competing in the Churchill Cup in June.

At underage level, Nigel Carolan has been appointed as assistant coach to the Ireland U20 side.

Carolan will continue to work with the Connacht Academy and joins the high performance manager Allen Clarke who will be coaching the side with Phil Orr managing the team.