Welsh coach Gareth Baber has been named as the new head coach of French second-tier side Nice. The 52-year-old will leave his current role as Director of Rugby Systems at Cardiff Metropolitan University to join the ambitious French club - who are currently bottom of the Pro D2 - at the end of June. Baber previously led Fiji to gold at the Tokyo Olympics and silver at last year's games in Paris, while he has also held coaching roles at Cardiff and Edinburgh. He had been linked with the Nice job in recent days but the move has now been confirmed, with the Cardiff-born coach relishing the "fantastic opportunity" that awaits him in France. Despite Nice's recent struggles, the club has big financial backing and plans to make a number of big name signings, with Taulupe Faletau among their targets. They have already recruited stars like Fiji skipper Waisea Nayacalevu, former Wales fly-half Owen Williams and ex-Springbok No.8 Uzair Cassiem. “I’m incredibly grateful for my time at Cardiff Met," he said as his exit was made official. "It’s been a role that’s really pushed me to reflect on how to build high-performing teams and create the kind of environment where people can truly thrive, and that’s something I’ll take with me into this next chapter. I’ve built relationships here that I’ll always value. "Nice Rugby is an ambitious and exciting project, and I’m looking forward to playing a part in shaping its future. It’s a fantastic opportunity to put my vision into practice in a professional environment, and I’m proud to take this next step.” On what he is leaving behind, he added: “Cardiff Met Rugby is in a strong position. With over 500 student players involved and performance teams competing at the highest levels, we’ve created an environment that supports excellence on and off the field. "That legacy is something I’m really proud of. We continue to plan for next season and beyond. I’m excited to see the continued growth and success of Cardiff Met rugby.”