Ex-Ireland and British and Irish Lions fly-half Ronan O'Gara has been promoted to the top coaching role at French club La Rochelle for next season.

However with Gibbes expected to move to Clermont, La Rochelle have handed O'Gara a new three-year deal which will see him taking sole charge of the team.

O'Gara said he was "extremely proud" of the trust the club are putting in him.

"I am obviously very excited about next season, but first, we have important challenges ahead of us and above all a good season to end in the best possible way," said the former Munster star.

The Atlantic-coast club are having a superb season, currently level on points with Toulouse at the top of the French domestic table and also set to play Leinster in the European Champions Cup semi-finals on 2 May.

After the Munster man's playing career ended, he spent almost five years in assistant coaching roles with Paris club Racing 92.

The Corkman then had a stint as attack coach of New Zealand Super Rugby outfit Crusaders for two seasons before moving back to France to take the La Rochelle position.

O'Gara won 128 Ireland caps and played for the British and Irish Lions on their 2001, 2005 and 2009 tours and also captained Munster, Ireland and the Lions.