‘It’s a great outcome’: Joe Schmidt explains Wallabies coaching handover

Current Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt plans on getting the boat out on Lake Taupo and “trying to get my golf handicap down” in a little over one year. Schmidt will step away from the position after the July internationals in 2026, with Les Kiss set to take over.

Kiss was unveiled as the next Wallabies boss on Wednesday, with the Queensland Reds coach joining Rugby Australia CEO Phil Waugh, Director of High-Performance Peter Horne, and Schmidt on a rainy morning at Sydney’s Allianz Stadium.

This is yet another new dawn for the Wallabies, with Kiss following in the footsteps of Michael Cheika, Dave Rennie, Eddie Jones and now Schmidt in quick succession. Kiss will replace Schmidt in the role from mid-2026, following the Australian leg of the new Nations Cup.

It was announced late last year that Schmidt had re-signed with Rugby Australia through until after the upcoming Rugby Championship, with the former All Blacks assistant coach having previously agreed on a deal through to the British & Irish Lions Series.

With a smile, Schmidt told reporters it wasn’t a difficult decision to re-sign for a second time, this time for practically another year. Schmidt and Kiss worked together during a successful stint with Ireland, where the former was named World Rugby Coach of the Year in 2018.

“Not when it was Les and it was going to be able to be dovetailed the way it was,” Schmidt explained.

“It’s funny, it seemed like a long time but then by the time I’d already agreed to do TRC, it didn’t seem that much further into the future. I suppose as you stack them up, it didn’t seem like an extra year, it seemed like an extra six months or eight months.

“I think the friendship that goes back a long way made that a lot easier. The family situation, the support from RA around maybe getting the family over a little bit more often to Sydney where I’m usually based, that made it a little bit easier as well.”

Schmidt initially committed to 17 Tests with the Wallabies, but the New Zealander will have an addition 14 matches in charge. In 2024, Australia showed signs of promise during the Autumn Nations Series, recording an upset win over England and almost stunning Ireland.

With the Lions Series only a couple of months away, the excitement and anticipation for the tour continues to build after the Spring Tour. Australian sides have performed well in Super Rugby Pacific which has supported that, with the Brumbies and Reds currently in the top four.

While Wednesday’s announcement means Kiss will take over about 15 months before a home Men’s Rugby World Cup in Australia, it seems all involved are happy with this outcome. That includes Schmidt, who is happy to walk away before the showpiece event.

“I’m really happy with the outcome. I think it’s a great outcome for me personally and my family and it’s one that’s not too much of a stretch to stay in the role,” Schmidt said.

“It’s been a privilege to be involved. It’s been really enjoyable to work with the staff and the playing group that we’ve had.

“I’m a little bit intimidated by the challenges coming up: three Lions Tests and then you’re on a plane to play on the Highveld against South Africa. I think all that is a bit intimidating but what a great challenge. I know the players are a little bit of the same thought around the challenge that they face.”