GLOUCESTER director of rugby David Humphreys said he is 'delighted' as the club appointed 47-year-old former South African ace Johan Ackermann as the club’s new head coach.

Ackermann succeeds Laurie Fisher in the job after the Australian resigned in the wake of Gloucester’s awful 30-27 home defeat by Harlequins last month, causing Fisher to tweet he took full responsibility and it was time for someone else to take over.

Ackermann is currently the head coach of the Lions in South Africa and will take up his position following the conclusion of their Super Rugby campaign.

Capped 13 times by his country, Ackermann was a member of the victorious South Africa squad at Rugby World Cup 2007 and played for The Blue Bulls, The Lions, The Griquas and the Sharks during a long and distinguished playing career in South Africa.

He has experience of the Premiership having enjoyed a spell as a player at Northampton Saints and also played for Calvisano in Italy.

Having retired from playing in 2008, Ackermann was appointed as forwards coach of the Lions in Super Rugby in 2010 where he worked with Head Coach, John Mitchell until 2013 when he took over the head coach position of the Lions in both Super Rugby and Currie Cup competitions.

Having dropped out of Super Rugby at the end of 2012, Ackermann led the Lions to promotion back into Super Rugby in 2013 and took them to the Super Final last season where they narrowly lost to the Hurricanes.

His success at both Currie Cup and Super Rugby level was recognised in South Africa where he was named South African Coach of the Year in 2014, 2015 and 2016 and was head coach of South Africa A last season.

Gloucester’s Director of Rugby David Humphreys said: “We’re all delighted that Johan has agreed to become the next jead coach of Gloucester Rugby. He is one of the top coaching talents in world rugby, and it’s a significant coup for the club to recruit someone of his calibre.

“When we first spoke to Johan, we were struck by the enthusiasm and energy he displayed to take up the challenge at Gloucester. Once we met him, we knew he was the person we wanted.”