<p>ROME — Former New Zealand international Kieran Crowley was hired as Italy rugby coach on Wednesday, replacing Franco Smith.</p>
<p>Crowley has been coach at Italian club Benetton since 2016. He coached at international level with Canada from 2008-16.</p>
<p>Smith, a South African who took charge after the 2019 Rugby World Cup, will move into a new role as the head of high performance in Italian rugby.</p>
<p>“In the five years with Benetton Rugby, I’ve been able to learn and understand the country and its rugby culture, an understanding which I cannot wait to develop as head coach of the national team,” Crowley said.</p>
<p>Crowley won the World Cup as a player with the All Blacks in 1987.</p>
<p>Italy is coming off a sixth straight last-place finish in the Six Nations, igniting the debate over whether the Azzurri deserve their guaranteed place in the competition.</p>
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