Almost three months after Eddie Jones sensationally quit Australian rugby, the Wallabies are set to unveil their next coach with Joe Schmidt expected to return to the international head coaching fold.
While Rugby Australia has both publicly and privately been flagging a late February announcement, The Roar can reveal that Schmidt’s deal with the governing body is essentially done.
Senior players were invited onto a call on Wednesday night where they were told of the news.
The development is likely to be welcomed by the playing group, with Schmidt regarded as one of the best rugby minds in the business.
New Zealander Joe Schmidt is set to take over as Wallabies coach. (Photo By Brendan Moran/Sportsfile via Getty Images)
The move comes not a second too late, with RA playing catch up in what is the most important four-year World Cup cycle in the governing body’s history.
Schmidt’s appointment will also see him go head-to-head with his former assistant coach, Andy Farrell, who earlier this week was announced as next year’s British and Irish Lions coach.
A former teacher, Schmidt is considered a student of the game and is known for his meticulous and forensic approach to coaching.
After stints with Clermont and Leinster, Schmidt oversaw Ireland between 2013 and 2019 and led the Emerald Isle to three Six Nations crowns, including the 2018 grand slam.
Although Ireland never progressed past the quarter-finals in two World Cups, he enjoyed a 72 per cent win record and took the nation to the top of the World Rugby rankings in 2018.
Schmidt also oversaw Ireland’s first success over the All Blacks, as they toppled the then-world champions in Chicago.
Two years later, Ireland once again downed the All Blacks to post their first home win over the rugby powerhouse nation.
Joe Schmidt had a 72 per cent win record with Ireland and took the Emerald Isle to three Six Nations crowns, including the 2018 grand slam. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
Schmidt stepped away from coaching in 2019 and joined World Rugby’s high-performance team, before jumping back into the coaching realm with the Blues and then the All Blacks as a selector.
Following the All Blacks’ shock home series loss to Ireland in 2022, New Zealand Rugby rejigged Ian Foster’s coaching set up which saw Schmidt and Crusaders forwards coach Jason Ryan join the team.
The move proved to be a masterstroke, with the All Blacks immediately rediscovering their lethal touch.
It culminated in the All Blacks winning last year’s Rugby Championship, before they went on to reach the final of the World Cup.
Schmidt has been linked to a move to the Wallabies for the best part of two months, but RA’s decision to appoint Peter Horne, who worked with the New Zealander at World Rugby, as director of high performance meant there was an obvious link between the two.
Should he indeed be confirmed as Wallabies coach, he will be the third New Zealander to coach Australia after Robbie Deans and Dave Rennie.
Many believed Schmidt wouldn’t touch the Wallabies coaching job after Rennie was ruthlessly sacked less than 12 months out from the World Cup.
Indeed, had former RA chairman Hamish McLennan still been in the job, Schmidt wouldn’t have given serious thought to it.
But a change of leadership at RA saw Schmidt change his tune.
Rugby Australia director of high performance Peter Horne and chief executive Phil Waugh are set to confirm Joe Schmidt as their new head coach. (Photo by Mark Evans/Getty Images for Rugby Australia)
Who Schmidt will assemble to join his Wallabies coaching team remains to be seen, but it’s highly likely several of his assistants will come out of the respective Super Rugby programs.
Daniel Halangahu, the highly respected assistant coach at the Blues who played alongside RA boss Waugh at the Waratahs, could also be someone on RA’s radar.
Schmidt will have a huge job on his hands trying to pick the Wallabies up following last year’s World Cup disaster, which culminated in Jones walking out on the game one season into a five-year deal.
Unlike Schmidt’s previous head coaching job with Ireland, he won’t be working in a centralised system, nor be able to base his national team around a powerhouse club like Leinster.
Grant
Roar Rookie
I don't think you'd find a Brumby fan who'd disagree on the state of Bruce stadium. A city stadium would be the perfect outcome but the ACT government has all but ruled it out. Bruce stadium is owner by the Feds and the ACT is reluctant to poor money into an asset they don't own. Manuka is a good option in the interim and I totally agree that the location of the stadium is as bad as it gets. All that said, it doesn't seem to stop Raiders fans from showing up, maybe it has something to do with the Raiders playing most of their games in the afternoon.
Biscuit man
Roar Rookie
If the Brumbies do go broke.Blame the ACT Govt for not building you a new stadium. That stadium not fit for purpose in 2024. Prob get more fans turning up if you moved to Manuka Oval. More facilities nearby for the fans- A few pubs and plenty of restuarants. AFL does OK there so why not the Brumbies? OK its an oval but Id rather go to Manuka as an away fan rather than out in that decrepit pit at bruce, in the middle of nowhere. Its embarrassing.
Grant
Roar Rookie
How good is the Canberra bubble?? You should move to Canberra, you clearly love typing, you could get a well paid job in the public service and focus your moaning towards the ACT government to get a stadium upgrade. Get to Canberra Biscuits, Territorians are ready to give you that much needed cuddle.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
No. It’s Aus rugby suiting what you are comfortable with. Still waiting for you to tell us one of these excellent Australian candidates. Perhaps I can wait another week for you to respond and not address the question?
LBJ
Roar Rookie
Just saw this - and you've really cracked me up this morning. My 'agenda' is the promotion and betterment of the Aussie rugby community. So yeah, I'm pretty comfortable with accepting that accusation. The hilarious irony being that is NOT your agenda...!
Cec
Roar Rookie
Jimbob. Congrats to the Reds for 94 & 95 they were good teams but Brums entered in 96 but go ahead and count them if it makes you feel better. Brums are only 1 of 2 SRP teams with more than 200 wins (Brums currently 251 wins) with Reds at 171 wins. If you want to only measure success with titles then that’s up to you but you’re perhaps inadvertently saying then that the Reds, in this example, are bigger failures. I don’t agree with this perspective which I find disrespectful to the players putting their bodies on the line whether it’s a win, lose or draw. Rugby is most certainly played in Canberra with the ACT u19s going undefeated to win the national title vs NSW (by the way the ACT vs QLD game at Ballymore this year was a cracker with great rugby from both sides). Further proof, ACT have 18 players selected in this year’s AUS U20s which is more than the Reds and Tahs combined. So how is this provincial club actually holding back the development of AUS rugby. Brums are indeed helping all those QLD & NSW families that have chosen the ACT for their kids to develop in to future SRP players. Really it is up to the Reds to offer a better value proposition to families & aspiring kids. I feel the attitude of limiting competition (because “their team” isn’t winning more) is one of the reasons why rugby in AUS is in decline & this entitlement mentality has to stop. Everyone should instead welcome increased competition to help drive and raise standards. If the Reds or Tahs want to be the powerhouse or benchmark for AUS Rugby then simply do so on the field, heck both unions have over a 100yr head start.
Cec
Roar Rookie
2, it’s not that hard Biscuits, it is the next number greater than 1
Cec
Roar Rookie
:laughing: if you can’t beat them pray for their “extinction”. :thumbup: Very classy Biscuits
Biscuit man
Roar Rookie
20 years since your last title and you have virtually had the run of the mill in Aus since 2015 and come up with ZERO. Cant win away from that SH** Hole of a stadium in Canberra. Its embarrassing.
Biscuit man
Roar Rookie
Tahs have done the right thing for the whole of Australian rugby. The selfish Brumbies and reds have jumped into bed with each other and think they know better. Time will tell. I give the brumbies 2 years max to extinction.
Biscuit man
Roar Rookie
ZERO!!!! :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:
Biscuit man
Roar Rookie
In the ACT there are aorund 2,000 players. The Brumbies seem to have forgotten them.
Biscuit man
Roar Rookie
Super Rugby is a professional sports business. Wether you and your Brumbies fans like it or not. No one denying your success on the field but it has produced very little contribution to the the growth of the game in this country. Your market is too small and The Brumbies are not growing their market in terms of fans or registered rugby players. They are not utilising as much local talent as they should a I should mention that you have a very strong schools and local comp that goes fairly well unused by the Brumbies. That I dont understand. I get it that the Brumbies staff etc dont wont to move out of Canberra because it good for kids and all of that and its an easy commute home and there is plenty of renewable energy. All the nice things. Canberra is warm and fuzzy and protected from the harsh outside world. But this is a business and your franchise is a flop on so many commercial fronts. The taxpayer and RA are propping you up to provide oxygen. Why continue investing in this dud business at at time with limited resources and the challenges the game faces in Australia. We are in survival mode and its time to put those that are not paying their way and contributing in the bin. Its harsh but fair.
Cec
Roar Rookie
Biscuits history has shown that it doesn’t matter how many resources, players and unpaid loans you give the Tahs. It’s been a stuff up for most of the last 25yrs. Arrogance? Nah I don’t write history it’s just there for anyone who wants to read it. It just is what it is! Going to 3 or 4 teams would be a disaster for Rugby with fewer spots available in the academy, pathways and top tier. We’d see more of our young players move to JAP, FRA, UK etc for opportunities. Who’s to say that the Brums Players, Coaching and Admin would even want a bar of Tahs culture. Big assumption from you Biscuits. Now that’s arrogant. :thumbdown: You should embrace the competition and lift up, not wish I’ll fate and bring everyone else down.
Cec
Roar Rookie
2 titles Biscuits and 60 more games won than the Tah Tahs in games, finals and wins vs NZ teams. That’s in the record books not matter how you want to frame it or deny it in this case. Tahs already handed in their keys btw, you should be crying instead :laughing:
Old school rugby
Roar Rookie
Cashflow and equity work in unison. If both travelling in the same direction you have your destination, and if forces are driving in the opposite directions your destination is determined by the greater force. Simple economics.
Biscuit man
Roar Rookie
OK Brumbies can have the participation and try hard medal again and again. :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: Its not the public service inside the Canberra bubble. Its sport. You win or you lose. They have won jack S*(& in 20 years. Time to hand in the keys and lock the gates for good.
Biscuit man
Roar Rookie
Agree Zero wins and Zero contribution. Just take players from other states, hire Pacific Islanders and reject their own juniors and local players. And even with all that they still cant win SR. Add to that their tiny fanbase. Virtually no commercial market that relies on govt to prop it up. Id rather see Adelaide, Newcastle or Gold Coast get a team than it wasted on overpaid Public Servants in the Canberra Bubble.
Biscuit man
Roar Rookie
Go read the news CEC. They are done and RA not bailing them out this time. No fans, dont use local players or juniors, no market , no hope. Time to call it a day on Brumbies rugby and make Australian rugby stronger. I am not the only one that knows or thinks this. But you continue with your arrogance inside the Canberra bubble.
Slim 293
Roar Rookie
Jimbo... those tears... so salty... so very, very salty... :laughing: