Reject Taranaki rugby coach Kieran Crowley has landed the top coaching job with Canada.

Crowley (46), who was dumped by Taranaki rugby last November after five years in charge, has signed a deal with the Canadian union through to the rugby World Cup in 2011.

But he could become a useful ambassador for Taranaki, which is hopeful of providing a home base for Canada during the build-up and pool play of the World Cup.

"It's all go. I leave early next month," he said yesterday. "It's a great opportunity, not only for me coaching, but also for my family."

Crowley, who played 35 matches for New Zealand from 1983 to 1991 and 200 for Taranaki at fullback, succeeds Canadian Ric Suggitt, whose contract was not renewed.

"It's a big challenge and I'm looking forward to it. We've got the Churchill Cup tournament in early June and then I will return home for a week," he said.

"Then the family (wife Sue and children Jayden 13, Nicole 12 and Casey 10) will head over."

Crowley said he had been impressed with what he saw in Canada when he went over for the interview.

"They're ranked 15th in the world. They drew 12-12 with Japan at last year's World Cup. They've got a good setup in place, with a fulltime assistant coach, skills coach and trainer already in place," Crowley said.

"They've got ambitions to get to a certain standard and that's all part of the challenge."

His impression of the Canadian side at the moment was that it was a very physical team with very good set-piece plays.

"There is still work to be done in those areas but they have done well," he said.

"The area that possibly needs improvement, I think, is the vision or the ability to change things when things are not as structured as they should be."

Crowley said he had been impressed with Victoria on Vancouver Island where he would be based.

"It's a nice place. The temperature was just like here. We're (his family) looking forward to the move."

Crowley's coaching CV also includes the words "world champion".

He coached New Zealand to the IRB world under-19 championship last year, defeating South Africa 31-7 in the final in Dublin.

From 2001 to 2003, Crowley was a selector for the All Blacks, including the 2003 World Cup under then coach John Mitchell.

He joins fellow All Blacks Warren Gatland (Wales), John Kirwan (Japan) and Robbie Deans (Australia) as coaches of overseas sides.