Rome - Jacques Brunel will take over for Nick Mallett as Italy rugby coach after the Rugby World Cup.
The Italian Rugby Federation announced on Tuesday that Brunel has agreed to a four-year contract to the end of the 2015 World Cup in England.
FIR announced last month that Mallett's contract would not be renewed. Mallett wanted to continue.
A Frenchman, Brunel is a former France assistant who has coached Perpignan since 2007.
Italy stunned defending champion France 22-21 in this year's Six Nations, but overall Mallett guided the squad to just six wins in 36 games.
The World Cup in New Zealand starts in September.