Gibbes, the former Waikato loose forward-lock who played eight tests for New Zealand in 2004 and 2005, has been forwards coach at French giants Clermont.
Gibbes, 40, is no stranger to the wider Irish scene, being forwards coach at Leinster for six years, helping them to three Heineken Cup titles and working alongside fellow Kiwi and current Ireland coach Joe Schmidt as well as Wallabies coach Michael Cheika.
He moved to France in 2014 but now returns for the prime role in Belfast.
