Cape Town - Irish club Connacht have confirmed the appointment of Australian Andy Friend as their new head coach.
Connacht posted on their official website that Friend, a former Brumbies and Australian sevens coach, has signed a three-year contract.
The news will be welcomed by Western Province fans as it means coach John Dobson will not be headed for Ireland.
Earlier in the week reports surfaced that Dobson was also in the running for the job.
Western Province, under the guidance of Dobson, won the Currie Cup in 2017 and that has helped enhance the 49-year-old's reputation as one of the brightest coaches in South Africa.
With Stormers coach Robbie Fleck currently under pressure with his side struggling, Dobson could emerge as a potential replacement should the franchise part ways with their current mentor.
Dobson, who is under contract at Western Province until the end of 2020, has also coached the UCT Ikeys and WP's under-21 side.