IN A DEVELOPMENT that underlines how the IRFU have missed a golden opportunity to hire one of the most highly regarded off-field managerial jewels in world rugby, the former Ireland international Conor O'Shea was yesterday confirmed as new national director of the English Institute of Sport.

The 35-times-capped former fullback will leave his position as director of the English RFU's national academy before the Beijing Olympics next autumn.

O'Shea has overseen the development of a raft of real gems in the English underage set-up; see their recent under-20 Grand Slam.

"I feel very privileged to be taking on the role of national director," said O'Shea. "It's a unique role. It's been a very tough decision to leave the RFU as I have thoroughly enjoyed the job but positions like the one at the EIS don't come along very often.

"As a provider of support services to our elite players, I've already had experience of working with the EIS and recognise the valuable role the organisation plays in the high-performance system.

"I'm really looking forward to getting started in what is a hugely exciting time for sport in this country."

O'Shea has in-depth knowledge of the professional game, having joined London Irish with the advent of professionalism in 1995 from Terenure and Leinster. He played for Ireland at the 1995 and 1999 World Cups and made 127 appearances for The Exiles, being chosen as the Zurich Players' Player of the Year in 1999 before an ankle injury brought a premature end to his playing career at the age of just 30.

Having retired in 2002 he augmented his degree in Commerce with a one-year Diploma in Legal Studies followed by a Masters in Sports Management through Brunel University and the United States Sports Academy in Alabama.

He remained at London Irish, taking on the role of director of rugby, and enjoyed immediate success, Irish lifting the Powergen Cup in 2002, an achievement that earned O'Shea the Zurich Rugby Director of the Year Award (shared with Brendan Venter).

He would later take up the role of managing director at the club, helping to turn an annual loss of €1.3 million into a small profit within a year (it was the first time the company had made a profit since the game went professional) before the RFU appointed him to his current role in 2005.

He is also a respected rugby analyst for RTÉ.