TORONTO - Less than two weeks after Rugby Canada handed former All Black Kieran Crowley a two-year contract extension as head coach, USA Rugby has put former New Zealand coach John Mitchell in charge of its men's national team.

The 51-year-old Mitchell has signed a four-year contract as head coach of the U.S. Eagles.

The U.S. is currently ranked 16th in the world while Canada is No. 19. The two teams traditionally face off for the first North American spot in the Rugby World Cup field with the loser having to go through an additional qualifying round.

Both countries went winless at the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

USA Rugby did not renew the contract of coach Mike Tolkin after the tournament but invited him to reapply for the position. After agreeing to some stipulations about the program, the 54-year-old Crowley — who was named Canadian coach in 2008 — was reappointed following a Rugby Canada review of the World Cup performance.

The two former All Blacks will face off in February at the Americas Rugby Championship.

Mitchell reportedly recently turned down an offer from South Africa's Stormers Super Rugby franchise and was interested in the England coaching job that eventually went to Eddie Jones, who left the Stormers for England.

"John is an outstanding coach with experience at all levels of the game who will develop a strong team culture, focus on the basics of the game and bring fresh ideas where they are most needed," USA Rugby CEO Nigel Melville said in a statement.

In landing Mitchell, USA Rugby has a coach with extensive international and Super Rugby experience. But he has been a lightning rod at times, drawing fire for his rigid coaching style.

The former All Black back-rower became the youngest ever head coach of New Zealand in October 2001. Under his helm, the All Blacks won the Tri-Nations in 2002 and 2003 and the Bledisloe Cup in 2003. He was let go with a 25-2-1 record after New Zealand finished third at the 2003 World Cup following a semifinal loss to host Australia.

Mitchell joined England's Sale as a player/coach in 1996 and was an assistant coach at Wasps, where Melville was director of rugby. He also served as an England assistant coach under Sir Clive Woodward.

He returned to New Zealand in 2000 and was appointed head coach of the Chiefs. He coached the Western Force in Super Rugby and, in 2011, was named South African rugby coach of the year after leading the Golden Lions to the Currie Cup Championship for the first time in 12 years.

Mitchell appeared in six matches with the All Blacks, captaining the team on three occasions. He also played in 134 matches for Waikato.

Canada, meanwhile, continues its search for a homegrown assistant coach with veteran forward Jamie Cudmore one of the candidates.

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