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Former Wallaby prop Ewen McKenzie has signed a three-year deal to coach struggling Super 14 side, the Queensland Reds, weeks after being dumped by French side Stade Francais following a disastrous start to their season.

The 44-year-old former New South Wales Waratahs coach was sacked last month after Stade had one win and four losses in their first five games in the French league.

"Ewen has a proven track record as a head coach and as someone who can deliver a quality rugby programme. He also gets results," Queensland Rugby Union chairman Rod McCall said in a statement posted on the Reds' website.

"We were fortunate that such a high quality candidate was available and can start preparing for 2010 straight away."

McKenzie, who took the Waratahs to the Super playoffs in three seasons in a five-year stint from 2003-2008, takes over from Phil Mooney, who was also sacked last month.

A 51-Test veteran, McKenzie will have his work cut out reversing the fortunes of the Reds, who finished 13th last year and have not made the playoffs since 2001.

The Reds' woes have deepened in the off-season, with Wallabies Berrick Barnes and Hugh McMeniman deserting Queensland for the Waratahs and Japan's Kubota Spears respectively.

McKenzie was upbeat about the Reds' prospects, however, and said he would relish the challenge.

"I've always been interested and involved in managing change so it doesn't scare me, so it's not a bad time to be getting involved in what I think is a very strong union," he said.

Reuters