Leinster have made additions to their coaching staff for next season.
John Fogarty is the new scrum coach, replacing the departed Marco Caputo.
Former Leinster captain and defence coach Kurt McQuilkin also re-joins the province on a short term contract as defence coach.
The shake-up comes as Leinster look for a new head coach, after the departure of Matt O’Connor last month.
Leinster’s CEO, Mick Dawson, explained the pair’s arrival:
"Top of the list was a need to put in place the resources to support Leo in his role as Head Coach and indeed Dan Tobin as Head of Fitness for the pre-season programme that they have planned.
“With Marco Caputo no longer here with us at Leinster and Richie Murphy being with Ireland as they prepare for the Rugby World Cup, there was always going to be a need to recruit and to recruit well ahead of the season.
"We believe that we have done that and in John and Kurt we have two coaches who understand what it takes to be a Leinster player and a successful one at that.
"They have also impressive coaching CVs and are very well respected within Leinster.
"Together with Leo and with Girvan Dempsey, who will be in place as backs coach, we now have a senior coaching team in place that will add value to the Leinster Rugby environment, that know the current group of players and indeed the next crop of players coming through and that can hopefully deliver performances for the start of the new season.”
2009 Heineken Cup winner Fogarty said, "It's a role that I am very much looking forward to although obviously with commitments here in Italy I haven't really begun to focus on it yet.
“But that will come and I can't wait to start working with Leo and the rest of the senior coaching set up.
Former Leinster captain McQuilkin was defence coach under Michael Cheika- and was part of the backroom team that won the 2009 Heineken Cup.
McQuilkin said, "I'm looking forward to going back. Obviously a lot has changed since I was involved last in terms of personnel and coaching staff but I am looking forward to the challenge and to helping out as best as I can.
“I obviously know Leo and Girvan very well and John too, so I hope that we can perform as a coaching team for the time that we have together and make sure that Leinster are in the best possible shape to take on the Guinness PRO12 on the first weekend in September.”
Dawson added, "It's business as usual for us at UCD and that will be reflected when the players return to training on the 1st of July.
“Leo and his coaching team are hugely excited by the opportunity that they have and they can't wait to get started in a few weeks.”
Meanwhile, Leinster have also appointed Shaun Berne as Elite Player Development Officer. He replaces Wayne Mitchell in the role.
