SYDNEY (Reuters) - Wallabies assistant coach Nathan Grey says he has left his role with the team to become Rugby Australia's national high performance coach from 2020.
The 35-test centre, who assisted Michael Cheika at the Rugby World Cup in Japan, will now work with the national sevens programmes, the Wallaroos women's side and age-grade teams.
"I've enjoyed my time as an assistant at both the NSW Waratahs and the Wallabies for the last four years but this is now an opportunity for me to continue my development as a coach," he said of the new role.
"We have some really talented individuals coming through the ranks at all levels so its about harnessing that, and then complimenting the great work that the coaches are already doing with their respective teams."
RA appointed New Zealand's Dave Rennie as the new Wallabies coach last month but said they wanted to bring Australian coaches in as his assistants.
Grey will also serve as technical director for Japanese Super Rugby side the Sunwolves on secondment for their final season.
RA Director of Rugby Scott Johnson said Grey's dual role had been agreed to keep him in the Australian coaching system.
"Nathan has proven himself to be a great young coach and he's one that we didn't want to lose out of the system," he said.
"We want to see him continue to grow and evolve and that will happen now with Nathan to be given a bit more responsibility and scope."
(Reporting by Greg Stutchbury; Editing by Peter Rutherford)