Kicking guru Mick Byrne is to leave New Zealand rugby taking up the role of forwards coach with the Japan national side.
Byrne, a former Aussie Rules player, has been a specialist coach with the All Blacks and New Zealand rugby for the past four years, working on kicking and catching skills.
He joins former All Black winger John Kirwan, who's head coach of the Japanese side.
Byrne will continue working with Super 14 franchises for the rest of the season and will also do some work with the All Blacks ahead of this year's domestic tests.
Byrne was the Wallabies' kicking and catching coach when they won the World Cup in 1999 and held the same role with the ACT Brumbies from 1998-2001.
He's also worked with the Springboks and Scotland and English club Saracens before joining the All Blacks in 2005.
