Kiss To Replace Schmidt As Australia Head Coach In 2026

Les Kiss will switch Joe Schmidt arsenic Australia caput coach successful 2026 and will lead nan Wallabies successful their location Rugby World Cup nan pursuing year.

Schmidt will stay successful his domiciled for nan upcoming Test bid against nan British and Irish Lions and nan Rugby Championship, earlier starring nan Wallabies into adjacent year's inaugural Nations Cup.

Kiss, who antecedently worked nether Schmidt arsenic an adjunct coach pinch Ireland, will stay Queensland Reds caput coach until midway done 2026, erstwhile Rugby Australia says location will beryllium an "orderly transfer" successful leadership.

Australian Kiss, who will go nan Wallabies' 5th caput coach successful 7 years, said starring his state astatine a location World Cup will beryllium nan "honour of a lifetime".

"It's an incredibly breathtaking clip for Australian rugby and I americium humbled by nan opportunity to service arsenic Wallabies caput coach from adjacent year," nan 60-year-old said.

Kiss, formerly head of rugby astatine Ulster and caput coach astatine London Irish, added: "Joe and I person a beardown narration and a agelong history of moving together, and I americium looking guardant to building upon nan fantabulous foundations he has laid pinch nan Wallabies.

"I americium thrilled to proceed pinch nan Reds for nan 2026 Super Rugby Pacific play earlier transitioning into nan Wallabies environment. To coach our nationalist squad done specified an important period, highlighted by a location Rugby World Cup successful 2027, is nan honour of a life and an opportunity I americium genuinely grateful for."

New Zealander Schmidt was primitively group to depart successful October pursuing nan Rugby Championship but has extended his enactment to facilitate Kiss' handover.

The erstwhile Ireland leader replaced Eddie Jones arsenic caput coach successful 2023 pursuing a tumultuous play for nan Wallabies.

Michael Cheika resigned pursuing nan 2019 World Cup quarter-final conclusion by England earlier replacement Dave Rennie was sacked earlier nan 2023 World Cup.

Jones returned connected a five-year woody earlier nan tourney but lasted conscionable 9 months arsenic Australia collapsed retired successful nan excavation shape for nan first clip successful their history.

"My volition to decorativeness astatine nan extremity of this year's Rugby Championship has been adjusted to fresh pinch Les' availability," said Schmidt, who has led nan Wallabies to six victories successful his 13 matches successful charge.

"I deliberation he's doing a awesome occupation pinch nan Reds, truthful it was important to dovetail pinch his responsibilities there.

"It has surely been a privilege to beryllium progressive pinch nan Wallabies - nan unit and players person worked difficult but we each cognize there's a batch much difficult activity up of america pinch nan British and Irish Lions present successful a fewer months' time.

"For my family, nan hold until nan extremity of adjacent July intends that they will walk much clip pinch maine successful Sydney truthful we will hopefully find a bully balance."