Mike Catt will form part of England's coaching staff for the five-match tour to South Africa this summer after New Zealander Wayne Smith snubbed an offer to join Stuart Lancaster's backroom team.

The London Irish coach will leave the Aviva Premiership club at the end of the season to join England for two months, which includes the entire five-match tour of South Africa this summer.

Lancaster will be looking to build on a Six Nations campaign which yielded four wins from five games and earned him the full-time role as the head coach at Twickenham.

On the appointment, Lancaster said: "Mike has played at the top level and is highly respected. He has done a great job at whilst coaching at London Irish and we are looking forward to working with him on this South Africa tour.

"He is experienced in playing in South Africa and this will be invaluable as we prepare for this challenging and exciting tour.

"While Mike, Graham Rowntree and myself will lead on the coaching for the tour we will also have Jon Callard and Simon Hardy as part of the coaching team," he added. "Jon and Simon know the players well from their roles with the Saxons.

"They will assist in the preparation and support to the midweek teams and they will provide excellent specialist support in their individual areas with Jon supporting our kickers and Simon our hookers throughout the whole squad."

Mike Catt
Catt will work under Lancaster for two months.

Capped 75 times by his country, Catt will bring a wealth of experience to the England backroom staff having also become the oldest player to play in a World Cup final in 2007.

After 12 years with Bath, Catt has spent the last eight years with The Exiles, latterly taking up a coaching role at the Madejski Stadium.

The 40-year-old says following a spate a superb showings in the Six Nations, Catt hopes he can make a significant contribution during the tour.

"I was very impressed with England during the Six Nations, not just the way they played but the culture that is developing, and hopefully I can complement what Stuart and Graham are doing," Catt said.

"There are some talented young players coming through and the chance to work with them for the Barbarians game and the tour is really exciting.

"I'll be sad to leave London Irish and I want to say a huge thanks to all the players and coaches I have worked with since 2004. Toby Booth in particular deserves massive credit for what and how he has taught me.

"Thanks also to the supporters who have been brilliant over the last eight years and I will take away some lasting memories."

England start their summer fixtures with the first of three tests against South Africa in Durban on 9 June, before taking on the Barbarians South in Kimberley on 13 June.

The second test takes place three days later on 16 June in Johannesburg, prior to a match against Barbarians North on 19 June in Potchefstroom and the third test with South Africa, the climax to the tour, on 23 June in Port Elizabeth.

Smith, part of the All Blacks backroom team which successful delivered the World Cup last year, cited personal reasons for turning down the offer to coach with England.

"It was an incredibly difficult decision but ultimately I have decided to stay in New Zealand, mainly for personal reasons," said Smith.

"I took the job with the Chiefs so I could move nearer to my elderly parents. I have travelled the globe with rugby for the last 15 years and I want to fulfil my commitment to be closer to them."

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