McLachlan has represented at New Zealand under-23 level and the Olympic development squad, as well as being national champion on various occasions.

Since 2005 he has coached British medal winning crews at the World Championships, the European Championships and the under-23 World Championships, and has served at the designated Great Britain high performance centre at the Imperial College Boat Club since 2010.

"Don comes to Irish Rowing with an excellent track record as a coach at the highest level of Great British club rowing and with the experience of coaching successful World Championship crews at senior and under-23 levels." said Rowing Ireland high performance director Morten Espersen.

Don McLachlan has been appointed lead coach at Rowing Ireland, entrusted with helping rowers "reach their potential"

"I believe that he will provide excellent leadership to our high performance coaching team and will work well with both elite athletes and key coaches in Irish rowing.

"His appointment will ensure that our international athletes will be provided with every opportunity to realise their full potential during his tenure"

McLachlan said: "I am delighted to be joining the Irish Rowing high performance team and am excited by the prospect of working with Morten and the squad of up and coming Irish elite rowers.

"I look forward to getting to know the athletes and to working with them to help Irish rowing achieve its full potential on the International stage."

McLachlan will be based at the Irish National Rowing Centre in Cork.

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