An assistant coach for the side during the last season, and at the Rugby World Cup, Ieremia, 45, has stepped into the head coach role following the recommendation of a five-man appointment panel headed by former All Blacks captain and New Zealand Rugby board member Graham Mourie.

Ieremia, who made his Wellington debut in 1992, played 65 times for the province and was an inaugural member of the Hurricanes when they played the first game of the Super Rugby competition in 1996 against the Blues. He made 41 appearances for the Hurricanes.

He made five Test appearances for Western Samoa in 1992-93 and then 30 caps for the All Blacks between 1994-2000.

After leaving New Zealand rugby he played three seasons with Suntory in Japan. Ieremia then served as an assistant-coach with Suntory, Wellington and the Hurricanes.

He replaces Stephen Betham who resigned after the Rugby World Cup where Samoa lost three of their four games. Their only win was over the United States 25-16 and they lost to South Africa 6-46, 5-26 against Japan and 33-36 against Scotland.

In a statement announcing Ieremia’s appointment the Samoan Rugby Union said: “Ieremia will coach all of Samoa’s national teams as well as coaching the Manu Samoa team.

“The recruitment process followed a disappointing Rugby World Cup 2015 where Samoa walked away with their lowest ranking World Rugby, and the subsequent resignation of former coach Stephen Betham.”

Ieremia, who was born in Samoa but who moved to Wellington when aged 18 to study at Victoria University, said: “I am realistic about the challenges that face Samoa, and our rugby teams.

“It’s exciting to be part of the changes at Samoan Rugby, and my first priority will be to align how we develop our work on the field, with the priorities set off the field,” he said.