Hore had been linked with a return to Cardiff for the WRU’s newly-created elite director post, but he will now start work with the Ospreys in February after agreeing a three-and-a-half-year contract.

He is currently employed as player development/sports science manager for the New Zealand Rugby Football Union.

Hore will have responsibility for all rugby operations at the Swansea-based Ospreys, although he will not be involved in on-field coaching.

Ospreys managing director Mike Cuddy said: “I think the appointment of an individual of such stature throughout the world of rugby is an enormous statement of intent from the Ospreys.

“In Andrew, we have one of the most respected young rugby brains in the world, and he comes with a proven track record.

“We felt that in order for us to achieve our long-term aims, we needed to put rugby structures in place that would build on the excellent work already done by our coaching staff.

“While we have extensive rugby experience within the organisation, we felt that we needed to look outside of the existing structure at individuals who could add something different to the mix, and Andrew certainly does that.

“He is right at the cutting edge of rugby thinking, and will bring to the table a different outlook on how to do things with his experience of the domestic game in New Zealand and the international game.

“We are honest and frank enough to acknowledge that while the business and commercial acumen is in place within the Ospreys, we don’t have the expert knowledge to take the rugby side of the business forward.

“We’ve held our hands up and said that we don’t have all the answers, and we have gone out and recruited someone who does have the ability to take us forward - someone with a breadth of rugby knowledge, the kind of which is simply not available from anyone in Wales at the moment.

“We want to be considered one of the top five teams in Europe, to be mentioned alongside the likes of Wasps, Leicester, Toulouse and Stade Francais when people talk about potential European Cup winners.”

Victories in their final two Heineken Cup group games next month should be enough for the Ospreys to secure a quarter-final place.

They are also through to the EDF Energy Cup semi-finals for a second successive season, and boast some of the biggest names in Welsh rugby on their playing staff such as Gavin Henson, James Hook, Shane Williams, Mike Phillips and Ryan Jones.

Hore said: “It was a difficult decision to step down from my role with the NZRFU, but the challenge presented to me by the Ospreys is as exciting a challenge as there is in world rugby.

“I will work hard with the rest of the Ospreys team to ensure that we can help deliver the long-term success that is so desired by everyone involved in the region.”