Alan Solomons joins Northampton at the end of the season

New Zealander Kennedy, who is currently with Solomons at Ulster, will become the club's forwards coach.

Sydney-born Ponissi, who is presently Montferrand's defence coach, will become Northampton's skills trainer.

Solomons will take over at Northampton at the end of the season when Wayne Smith departs for his new job with the New Zealand national side.

Saints operations director John Steele said: "Everyone knows of Alan Solomons' talent and this will be complemented by the innovative Frank Ponissi and very experienced Adrian Kennedy.

"These new coaches will also be complemented by our current coaching structure that includes Paul Larkin and Tim Exeter."

The 43-year-old Kennedy, a former policeman, played for Canterbury before taking up coaching.

He was Solomon's assistant coach at Western Province in 1998 and became assistant coach of the Stormers in the Super 12 tournament in 2000 and 2001.

Ponissi, 39, comes from a rugby league background and worked with the Kangaroos for three years from 1994.

Having switched codes he began his current role with Montferrand in 2002 and also worked as a defence consultant to South Africa at last year's rugby union World Cup.

Meanwhile, Northampton have signed lock Damien Browne from Irish provincial side Connacht.

The 23-year-old former Ireland under-21 forward will become the heaviest and equal tallest member of the Saints squad at 6ft 6ins and 19st 5lbs.