British and Irish Lions

The Australian succeeds Mark McCall, who resigned last month following the province's 32-14 defeat to Gloucester in the first round of Heineken Cup fixtures.

Williams will meet the squad on a short trip to Belfast later this week but will take over permanently at the end of January.

Caretaker coach Steve Williams will remain in charge for Ulster's next three games - against Munster in the Magners League and the Heineken Cup ties with Bourgoin and Gloucester.

Williams has previously coached New South Wales and Leinster, where he won the Celtic League and reached the semi-finals of the Heineken Cup.

Williams won just three of 17 Tests during a controversial 16-month stint in charge of Scotland and has most recently been coaching West Harbour in the Sydney club competition.

He was offered the Ulster post before Christmas and informed chief executive Michael Reid of his decision to accept on New Year's Eve.

Williams takes over an Ulster side level with Connacht at the bottom of the Magners League, with just two wins from nine games.

Ulster are also yet to win a game in the Heineken Cup.

Alex Cuthbert admits the prospect of touring with The British & Irish Lions seemed like a distant dream when the squad were preparing for their most recent adventure four years ago.

Lions skipper Sam Warburton says the lessons he and his Welsh colleagues learnt in Australia last summer will stand them in good stead for their return visit with Britain and Ireland's elite next month.

Tom Youngs has enjoyed a remarkable rise to the top of the British & Irish game but he won't be resting on his laurels ahead of his first Lions adventure.