The Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) on Monday said they had appointed New Zealand's Joe Schmidt to the job of Ireland head coach as replacement for the sacked Declan Kidney. Schmidt will leave his role as Leinster head coach to succeed Kidney, who was dismissed earlier this month after Ireland finished fifth in the Six Nations tournament. The IRFU, which announced the appointment on its website irishrugby.ie, selected Schmidt, a two-time European Cup-winning coach, ahead of Les Kiss and Ewen McKenzie, who were also candidates.

LONDON (Reuters) - Ireland centre Brian O'Driscoll has been suspended for three weeks after being found guilty of stamping on Italy's Simone Favaro during his side's Six Nations championship defeat last Saturday. O'Driscoll, who was playing his 125th international for his country, was cited for the incident which completed a woeful day for the Irish who were beaten 22-15 in Rome. The 34-year-old was sin-binned for only the second time in his long career during the match but could have faced a suspension of nine weeks.

Ex-All Blacks captain Tana Umaga Wednesday said he'd made peace with Brian O'Driscoll over his infamous 2005 Lions tour spear tackle -- but suggested the row was overplayed by British spin doctors. The New Zealand great told AFP he'd "buried the hatchet" with Ireland's O'Driscoll, the then Lions captain whose tour ended when he was picked up and dumped head-first to the deck just seconds into the first Test.

Brian O'Driscoll will face a citing hearing in London on Wednesday for stamping on Simone Favaro in Ireland's 22-15 Six Nations defeat by Italy, tournament organisers have announced. The 34-year-old centre -- who is widely expected to have played his last game for Ireland before he eventually retires -- was sin-binned for the incident by referee Wayne Barnes. However, on further viewing, citing commissioner Aurwel Morgan decided he should face a disciplinary hearing.