Paul McNaughton was captain and coach of club side Greystones

Paul McNaughton had been named as the new Ireland team manager.

The former Irish international is the first appointment to the backroom team since the confirmation of Declan Kidney as the new coach earlier this month.

McNaughton, capped 15 times between 1978 and 1981, will hold the position until after the 2011 World Cup.

"While there are challenges ahead there is also a certain amount of anticipation about the possibilities that exist for Irish rugby," he said.

"I am looking forward to working with Declan and the rest of the players over the coming months and beyond.

"I can echo his sentiments by saying that there is no greater honour than working with your own national team.

"Declan's focus will remain totally on the Munster team for the next number of weeks and following this we will be setting about putting in place the structures around the team ahead of the Autumn internationals, which gives us a certain amount of latitude to do that."

McNaughton was manager of the Leinster team during Kidney's spell in charge of the province.

He has also worked as chairman of the Leinster professional team management committee.

Kidney will miss Ireland's summer tour to New Zealand and Australia so he can concentrate on Munster's Heineken Cup final against Toulouse.

Connacht's Michael Bradley has been appointed caretaker coach and will also oversee the Barbarians fixture at Kingsholm on 27 May.