Prime All Blacks candidate to succeed Scott Robertson rules himself out as NZR suffer first big blow in head coach search
Scott Robertson and of NZ Rugby chairman David Kirk, who is leading the search for the next All Blacks boss.
It appears as though Joe Schmidt will not be the next All Blacks head coach after it was reported that the current Wallabies boss will not consider a move mid-Rugby World Cup cycle.
Following the sacking of Scott Robertson midway through his four-year deal, the 60-year-old was considered to be among the favourites to replace him.
But according to the Sydney Morning Herald, Schmidt will remain loyal to Australia and not put himself in the frame for the All Blacks role.
It has been claimed that the ex-Ireland head honcho was ‘sounded out’ by New Zealand Rugby regarding the position, but it seems the governing body can now cross his name off any potential shortlist.
Joe Schmidt’s Wallabies tenure is coming to an end
Schmidt is still technically the head coach of the Wallabies, but he has already overseen his final game, which took place in November 2025 during the end-of-year tour.
He will stay in place while his successor, Les Kiss, sees out the Super Rugby season with the Reds before handing over for the Nations Championship.
It is a blow for NZR, who would have seen Schmidt as the ideal candidate to replace Robertson and who fits the criteria that the governing body has now put in place.
They have demanded that the new person is a New Zealander and have international experience – something the current Australia head coach obviously has.
The likes of Jamie Joseph (Japan), Dave Rennie (Australia) and Vern Cotter (Scotland and Fiji), who have all coached at Test level, are therefore among the probable frontrunners for the role.
“This is the All Blacks. As a matter of principle, ideally we want a New Zealander coaching that team,” interim chief executive Steve Lancaster said.
“We’re also really fortunate in NZ, we have an incredible amount of amazing coaches, coaching here in NZ and around the world.
“We don’t believe, at this point in time, we need to go outside NZ candidates.
“This is a point in time. One of the things I will say, is that when you’re in high performance in elite sport, is that what’s valid at one point in time doesn’t necessarily stay valid indefinitely.
“I’m always loath to make predictions about the future, but at this point in time, we believe we’ve got the right criteria for the role.”
Other reasons why Schmidt might not commit
It is perhaps not unexpected if Schmidt, as claimed, has decided not to offer his services to New Zealand Rugby.
Despite becoming part of Ian Foster’s set-up in 2022 and playing a key role in their run to the 2023 Rugby World Cup final, he is understandably reluctant to commit to certain jobs due to his son having severe epilepsy.
Equally, the ex-Ireland boss may still have issues with NZR after criticising the way in which the Scott Robertson appointment was handled, even if the key player in that controversy, CEO Mark Robinson, has since departed.
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