Former Bath and England full back Jonathan Callard is set to be named as the new Leinster coach today.
He was one of 27 applicants for the position vacated by Matt Williams, who moved to Scotland to take over the national team after the forthcoming World Cup in Australia.
Callard was assistant coach to former Wales international Phil Davies at Zurich Premiership league clubs Leeds Tykes and his appointment is something of a surprise.
The other candidates reputed to have made the shortlist were Leinster assistant coach Willie Anderson, Ireland scrum and Ballymena coach Tony D'Arcy, former Wales international and Caerphilly coach Mark Ring, and southern hemisphere underage coaches Bryce Woodward and Laurie Fisher.
A four-man Leinster committee compiled a shortlist of seven, and these were interviewed over two days last week, Thursday and Friday. On the second day, four applicants outlined their case in interviews at Heathrow airport.
Callard obviously conducted an impressive interview and the fact that as a player he enjoyed huge success with Bath and England and has done a fine job at Leeds as a coach won him the committee's approval. As he is a backs coach - and assuming Anderson stays - it seems changes in the Leinster set-up will be minimal.
The new appointment will be revealed to the Leinster squad this morning before being confirmed to the media. Callard won't have any say in the contract allocation for next season as the province is expected to confirm two more players over the next few days, scrumhalf Derek Hegarty and prop Darren Molloy.
Elsewhere, Ulster expect to be in a position shortly to confirm the signing of former Hurricanes and Highlanders centre Paul Steinmetz.
The 26-year-old, who can play centre and outhalf, has won one cap for the All Blacks and is expected to join the Ulster squad at the conclusion of the NPC season in mid-October, linking up with another New Zealander, former Canterbury Crusaders forward Matt Mustchin.