IRISH club De La Salle Palmerston have snapped up former Worcester coach Adrian Skeggs to be their new director of rugby.

The Australian, who guided the Sixways club to second place in National One last season, is set to sign a two-year deal with the Irish part-timers.

The Dublin-based club enjoyed their most successful season last year when they held on to their Irish League Division One status, after promotion in 1999, and have offered the 37-year-old a full-time deal.

Skeggs has kept a low profile since his Sixways departure in May. He has held lengthy talks with a number of clubs in Europe but plumped for Ireland in a bid to settle in Dublin for at least two years.

"Dublin is a great city and the job's a real challenge which I'm very excited about," he said. "I've come to a point in my life when I need at least a couple of years in a job.

"I was absolutely devastated at not being given another year at Worcester because I felt as if we had laid down some good foundations. However, there is no bitterness there -- that's life."

Skeggs has been an interested observer of events at his former club during the summer as Worcester brought in 17 new players, released and retained 16 and appointed three new coaches.

And he is already backing them to take National One by storm in the coming season and finally win promotion.

He added: "They've got it right. I think John Brain will do a good job there, not just in National One but also in the Premiership.

"They have brought in a lot of experience and talent and with Kingsley Jones about, they will be up there. He is a great talent, an excellent number seven and a great leader."

Ironically, Worcester will travel to Dublin next month for a five-day trip as part of the build-up to their league campaign which begins with a home clash against Manchester on September 1.