The Rugby Football League has confirmed that Australian Wayne Bennett is to be the new head coach of England.
The 66-year-old has agreed a two-year contract and will be at the helm for the 2016 Four Nations Series and the World Cup next year.
Bennett is regarded as the most successful Australian rugby league coach in history, having claimed a record seven NRL Grand Final wins.
He will succeed former England head coach Steve McNamara but will also continue in his role with the Brisbane Broncos.
"I am very excited by the challenge of taking England on to the next level," said Bennett.
"From what I have seen, I have been impressed by the ambition and energy demonstrated by the team and I look forward to working with a group of players that I believe have what it takes to succeed on the international stage."
RFL chief executive Nigel Wood said: "Wayne is quite rightly regarded as the outstanding coach of his generation and I am delighted that we have been able to secure his services.
"This England team has made considerable progress over the last few years and we now possess truly world-class players across all positions.
"These players deserve the very best support and coaching, as we attempt to move from contenders into potential winners of international tournaments.
"I believe that Wayne Bennett is undoubtedly the right man to lead this group forward and enable them to do this."
Bennett has twice coached Australia but he will now go head-to-head with Mal Meninga, who beat him to the current Kangaroos job, when England host the Four Nations Series in the autumn.
However, Bennett's appointment is likely to cause a degree of debate, former England skippers Jamie Peacock and Kevin Sinfield having already stated that McNamara's contract should have been extended so that he could coach the side at the 2017 World Cup.
The former Bradford boss recently steered England to a 2-1 series victory over the world's top-ranked side New Zealand.
Wood said: "Steve McNamara has been the longest serving national coach in our history and it is undoubtedly the case that the national team and set-up have moved on considerably under Steve's leadership.
"We would like to place on record our thanks to Steve McNamara for his considerable efforts over the years to both the England senior team and the underlying programme. He leaves with our very best wishes and on a high, after a series win over New Zealand."