Castres are hoping McCall can enliven the club's back play as they are currently struggling in the French Top 14 Championship and sit second-from-bottom in the table. The former Ireland centre is replacing Ugo Mola, whose contract was scheduled to run until the end of the season, as the club's backs coach.

A familiar face for McCall at the club will be his former Ulster and Ireland team-mate Jeremy Davidson who has had a senior coaching role at Castres since last summer.

McCall stepped down as Ulster coach last month after the province's less-than-impressive start to the season.

As well as McCall's appointment, Castres have announced Alain Gaillard as the club's new sporting director. A statement from the club said: "These decisions were taken following rising dissent within the team and a bad start to the campaign."