The 43-year-old comes in to replace Australian Dan Ryan, who stepped down at the end of last month.

Rice, a former Northern Ireland captain, emerged from a worldwide recruitment process and her appointment has been unanimously approved by the Netball Northern Ireland Board.

She first took on the job in 2008 and guided the country to its first international trophy - the Nations Cup - and a maiden World Cup quarter-final appearance in Singapore in 2011.

After standing down to focus on family life, Rice took temporary charge of the team again for Northern Ireland's home European Championships in 2015 - where the hosts won bronze in Antrim.

She returned on a permanent basis the next summer and guided the side to silver at the 2017 European Championships and eighth at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games.

Northern Ireland, nicknamed the Warriors, also qualified for the 2019 World Cup and were at their highest ever world ranking of eighth when Rice departed.

"It's a great privilege to be given this opportunity to coach the Warriors again at such an important period and I'm grateful to Netball NI for putting their faith in me," said Rice. 

"Anyone who knows me will be aware of how passionate I am about the team.

"Whenever the Northern Ireland netball team plays, I find myself emotionally involved, whether on the sideline as head coach, watching helplessly from afar or impatiently refreshing for updates.

"I am exceptionally proud of what the team achieved when I had the honour of doing the job before, but now we're looking to the future. 

"It's an exciting challenge and I'll leave no stone unturned in the quest for fresh success.

"A significant nucleus of my last squad is still there and I look forward to working with those players again but also some of the younger generation who are emerging now. 

"We're fortunate to have such committed and talented athletes in Northern Ireland netball.

"Our player pool may not have the depth of many netball nations but, over the past decade and more, we have shown we can compete effectively at international level and the fantastic spirit always in evidence was what led to the Warriors moniker being conceived."

Northern Ireland will need to maintain their place in the top 12 of the international rankings to qualify for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

They currently sit in 11th place.

"I am delighted to welcome Elaine as the new head coach of the Northern Ireland Warriors," said Netball NI chairman Geoff Wilson. 

"Elaine is no stranger to the national team set-up and brings with her a wealth of experience and knowledge to the role.

"The next two years are very important to Netball NI, with qualification not only to the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in 2022 but also the 2023 World Cup in South Africa. 

"I would like to wish Elaine and her backroom team every success in the years ahead."