Humphreys appointed IRFU performance director

Humphreys spent six years as Gloucester's director of rugby

Former Ireland and Ulster fly-half David Humphreys has been appointed as the Irish Rugby Football Union's new performance director.

Nucifora has held the post since 2014.

"I was fortunate to have a wonderful playing career with Ireland and I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to play a part in another chapter of Irish Rugby's history," said Humphreys.

"This role is the fulfilment of a lifelong ambition and I look forward to building on the successful systems put in place by David Nucifora, who has been a driving force behind Irish Rugby for ten years."

Humphreys won 72 caps for Ireland and captained Ulster to the European Cup in 1999.

After retiring in 2008, he served as Ulster's director of rugby and s[pent six years in a similar position at Gloucester.

He was also a high performance consultant for Georgia and is currently the director of performance operations with the England and Wales Cricket Board.

The IRFU have said Humphreys will join as performance director designate in March, working alongside Nucifora to "facilitate a smooth and orderly transition".

Nucifora will oversee final preparations for the Paris Olympics next summer while Humphreys takes up his new role on 1 June.

"In David Humphreys we know we have found someone who believes passionately in Irish Rugby and has the expertise, skills, and desire to keep us competitive on the world stage," said IRFU chief executive Kevin Potts.

"Our search took us globally and ultimately David was the stand-out candidate."