JUST IN:Joe Schmidt confirms World Cup ‘remit’ ahead of ‘intimidating’ challenge against Lions and Springboks.
Joe Schmidt has confirmed what role he is open to performing for the Wallabies at the 2027 Rugby World Cup following the announcement of his successor.
Schmidt was set to vacate his role as head coach at the conclusion of the 2025 Rugby Championship, but has now agreed to extend his stay midway through 2026.
He will then be replaced by Queensland Red boss Les Kiss, who will coach the side through to the World Cup.
Schmidt’s desire to step down from his role as the Wallabies boss is in order for him to spend more time with his family, particularly with his son being diagnosed with epilepsy at age four.
Happy with the outcome
Speaking at a press conference confirming that Kiss will take over in 2026, the current Wallabies boss said he was pleased by the outcome.
“I’m really happy with the outcome. It’s a great outcome for me personally and my family, and it’s one that isn’t too much of a stretch to stay in the role,” he said.
“It’s been a privilege to be involved with the Wallabies, it’s been really enjoyable to work with the staff and playing group that we’ve had.”
Kiss and Schmidt have a close friendship, having worked for several years together during their time in Ireland, with the former working as an assistant to the latter with the national team before moving into the director of rugby role at Ulster.
Schmidt explained that knowing that Kiss would be the man to take over from him made the decision to extend his stay beyond the Rugby Championship easier.
“Knowing it was Les and that it could be dovetailed the way was [made it easy],” he said.
“It’s funny it seemed like a long time, but by the time I agreed to stay on for the Rugby Championship, it didn’t seem that much further into the future.
“So when you stacked them up, it didn’t seem like an extra year, it seemed like an extra six months or eight months. The friendship that goes back a long way made it easier, and the family support from RA around, maybe getting the family over a little more often to Sydney, where I’m usually based, made it a little easier as well. So I feel that I’m getting some balance and supporting my wife and getting my son a bit of growth at the same time.”
World Cup push and intimidating 2025
But did he consider extending his time in Australia by an extra few months with the World Cup not too far long after his departure in 2026? Schmidt states that he isn’t planning to be involved at the World Cup but is always willing to lend a hand as a favour.
“It isn’t really anything that I’m planning to do,” he said when asked about staying on until the World Cup.
“But I had a guy that I coached with ring me a couple of weeks ago and asked if I’d look at their last two games and give him some feedback on some things I see in their game, and can I could bounce some ideas back to him.
“And I did that for him, so I’ll have a sounding board remit, and that’s a friendship-oriented thing as much as a professional rugby formal involvement.
“I will stay interested in the game, and I love the game because of the interdependence and real teamwork that you need to deliver a performance.”
Looking ahead to his final full calendar year, Schmidt admits that it is an intimidating run of fixtures with the Wallabies heading to South Africa for back-to-back matches against the Springboks in the Rugby Championship.
“I’m a little bit intimidated by the challenges coming up, three Lions Tests and then we are on the plane to play South Africa on the Highveld,” he added.
“All of that is intimidating but jeez, what a great challenge and I know the players are of the same thought around the challenge that they face.”
