Conor O’Shea wants Italy to deliver on potential

Conor O’Shea says he is “honoured, humbled, and excited” to have been appointed Italy’s new head coach on a four-year contract that will incorporate the 2019 World Cup.

The 45-year-old Irishman will succeed Jacques Brunel and officially begin work in June, with O’Shea’s coaching team confirmed as including former England attack specialist Mike Catt.

Catt returns to rugby after leaving his post as an England assistant coach in December following the host nation’s spectacular 2015 World Cup flop when they failed to progress beyond the pool stage.