Former All Blacks and Western Force mentor John Mitchell will leave his position as defence coach for Japan's men's team after the Rugby World Cup to take over as head coach of England's women's team.
England's Rugby Football Union announced the upcoming arrival of Mitchell on Thursday.
It will mark his return to England after spells with the men's national team as forwards coach from 1997-2000 and defence coach from 2018-21.
Mitchell was head coach of the New Zealand team at the 2003 World Cup after taking over in 2001.
He guided the Western Force in Australia from 2006-10 among several club head coach roles and was coach of US men's teams in 2016-17.
Mitchell said he wanted England's women's team, which has just won a fifth straight Six Nations title, to "mature in key areas and become a truly champion side that can rightfully contest for the World Cup in 2025."
The men's World Cup takes place in France in September and October.
