Crowley to take over at struggling Treviso

Rome - Former All Black Kieran Crowley, coach of Canada since 2008, will take over at struggling Italian side Treviso from next season.

Crowley, who won 19 caps for New Zealand as a full-back and was part of the 1987 World Cup-winning squad, played two seasons in Italy, with Parma, between 1982-4.

"I can't wait to get working," said Crowley, who was coach of Canada at both the 2011 and 2015 World Cups and who last week backed out of a contract extension through until August 2017.

And the 54-year-old will have his work cut out, Treviso not having notched up a victory in either the Celtic League or the European Champions Cup this season, on a run of 23 consecutive defeats.

Treviso sacked coach Umberto Casellato earlier this month with South African Marius Goosen taking up the reins on an interim basis.