Rugby Australia suffer setback as potential Joe Schmidt successors make their positions very clear
Wallabies head coach Joe Schmidt and Reds boss Les Kiss.
Two of Joe Schmidt’s potential replacements have distanced themselves from the Wallabies job as uncertainty remains over the head coach’s future.
The 59-year-old is only contracted until the conclusion of the British and Irish Lions series but Rugby Australia (RA) are in negotiations in an attempt to extend that to the end of the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
Schmidt is reluctant to commit due to familiar matters, with the likelihood being that he will depart following the conclusion of the Lions encounters.
RA are willing to make concessions in an attempt to entice him to stay, however, such as missing certain tours, but even that may not be enough.
RA’s contingency plan
As a result, a contingency plan has reportedly been put in place and it has been claimed that they have already begun speaking to Les Kiss.
But the former Ulster and London Irish head coach played down his links to the Australia job and pointed to the fact that he is contracted to the Reds until the end of 2026.
“Myself, Zane Hilton, Brad Davis, Hayley Cronin – they’re my key performance people – we’ve got a contract here for this year and next year, that’s our focus,” Kiss told ESPN.
The 60-year-old also stated that he did not want to “disrespect Joe” by talking about the Wallabies boss’ future and that Schmidt has “got those things in his place and he can make decisions when he wants to.”
Former Wallabies assistant Dan McKellar, who is now heading up the Waratahs, is another person that has been linked to the job.
McKellar took the same line as Kiss and insists that all his focus is on helping his franchise improve for the upcoming Super Rugby Pacific campaign.
“No, I’m just head down, bum up, just getting stuck into this,” he said.
“I’m genuinely keen and excited. I think if we can get things right here, that’s going to help Rugby Australia. I’ve come back to help [and] I think I can do that.
“Mate, I’m contracted here for the next three years, so that’s all I’m worrying about. We’ll give Joe the space that he needs to make his decision and crack on.”
Suaalii’s view
Cross-code convert Joseph Suaalii also fronted the media and was asked about Schmidt, who gave him his professional rugby union debut last year.
Suaalii only moved from the 13-a-side game after the Sydney Roosters’ NRL campaign ended in late September, but he impressed for the Wallabies in November.
“Joe’s a great man and he looks after his family first, and I feel like that’s what most people would do,” the 21-year-old told reporters.
“Any time that we get to spend time with Joe, for myself, I’m just trying to learn as much as possible because he is honestly one of the greatest coaches I’ve had.
“I just love learning off what he does, what he brings to the group is second to none.
“I’m not sure what he’s going to do after the Lions tour, but every time I or the boys in the Wallabies camp spend time with him, you’re trying to take as much as you can in because Joe’s a one-of-a-kind coach.”
