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Australian coach Joe Schmidt will leave his role at the end of this year’s rugby championship, leaving the Wallabies to hunt for a fourth head coach in as many years.
Schmidt took over following the disastrous release of the 2023 Rugby World Cup pool on a short -term contract until the end of the British and Irish Lions series this summer.
The New Zealander, formerly responsible for Ireland, extended this agreement for a few months to encompass the annual competition of the southern hemisphere, but will leave before the tour of Australia in November.
He leaves Rugby Australia (RA) to seek another new coach after a turbulent period for the men’s team. The recruitment process will be led by Peter Horne, director of high performance.
“We are delighted that Joe will continue to train the Wallabies beyond his current contract,” said Horne. “After noting the positive impact Joe had with the Wallabies by playing and training the staff, we wanted to stay after the Lions series.
“Joe expressed us that he appreciated his work with the Wallabies while clearly showing his need to spend more time at home with his family.”
Schmidt added: “I really appreciate my time with Australian rugby. The British and Irish lions are our immediate goal but, with the rugby championship which follows so closely after the Lions series, I understand the need for continuity before two test games against South Africa. »»
The arrival of former All Blacks assistant came after the release of Eddie Jones for Japan in the midst of allegations according to which the head coach had met representatives of the Japanese Rugby Football Union (JRFU) During a tournament that saw the Wallabies spilled from their swimming pool after being beaten by Wales.
Jones himself overthrew Dave Rennie at the end of 2022 to return to his native Australia after her defensive by England.
It may be that RA looks back again to move forward: Michael Cheika confirmed that he would leave the Leicester tigers at the end of this first season, and could be targeted for a return to a role that He completed between 2014 and 2019.
Cheika led Australia to the final of the 2015 World Cup. His former attack coach Stephen Larkham, one of the major play leaders in the country, could also emerge as a competitor who did a strong job with the Brumbies in the past two years.
Les Kiss, in charge of Queensland’s Reds, and another former Leicester coach in Dan McKellar, now with Waratahs, could also be taken into account.
Meanwhile, it is believed that Graham Rowntree, former pillar of tigers in the front row, is among the main contenders for vacancy at Welford Road. The 53 -year -old man has been unemployed since his departure from Munster by mutual consent in October.
