Joe Schmidt will leave his position as Australia head coach after this year’s Rugby Championship, leaving the Wallabies facing another head coach search two years out from hosting the Rugby World Cup.
Schmidt will pit his wits against Andy Farrell’s British and Irish Lions and has signed an extension through to the start of October, but Rugby Australia has announced that a search is now underway to appoint a replacement.
The new head coach would need to be in place in time for the Wallabies’ northern hemisphere tour at the end of the year, with opponents and dates yet to be confirmed.
“We are delighted Joe will continue to coach the Wallabies beyond his current contract,” said Director of High Performance, Peter Horne. “After noting the positive impact Joe has made with the Wallabies playing and coaching staff, we were keen that he stay on after the Lions series.
“Joe expressed to us that he was enjoying his work with the Wallabies while also making clear his need to spend more time at home with his family.”
Schmidt said “I am very much enjoying my time with Australian Rugby. The British and Irish Lions is our immediate focus but, with the Rugby Championship following so closely after the Lions Series, I understand the need for continuity heading into two away Test matches against South Africa.”
Schmidt replaced Eddie Jones after Australia were knocked out of the Rugby World Cup in the pool stages for the first time in 2023.
The former Ireland head coach oversaw an overhaul of Australia’s squad and the Wallabies finished 2024 well, with wins over England and Wales and a narrow defeat against Ireland in Dublin.
His departure will leave Australia looking for their fourth head coach in five years, after Jones replaced Dave Rennie at the start of 2023.
Australia are looking for yet another new head coach - and Michael Cheika may be the answer
The prospect of Schmidt seeing out a four-year cycle as head coach of the Wallabies always felt unlikely, for two reasons. Firstly, given the short contract he signed after taking over which was set to expire after the British and Irish Lions series. And secondly, because Schmidt has spoken openly in the past about his family commitments back in New Zealand, which include caring for his son, Luke, who has severe epilepsy.
Yes, it is a shame that just as the Wallabies were beginning to settle after a turbulent Rugby World Cup and some wild results in 2024 - including their second-biggest ever defeat, 67-20 away in Argentina - that now Schmidt will be moving on before the end of the year.
The upward curve the Wallabies looked to be going through during the autumn, with an improving pack and some good finishing out wide combined with the x-factor arrival of Joseph Sua’ali’i in midfield, has led to renewed optimism about not only the Lions series but also the World Cup in 2027.
But Schmidt’s exit is not a shock. And Rugby Australia will have been planning in the background for this possibility.
The timing of Michael Cheika’s departure from Leicester Tigers after one season feels convenient. Cheika’s family are back in Australia and after declining the extra year option on his deal, his return feels well-timed.
Cheika previously took Australia to the 2015 Rugby World Cup final and was named World Rugby’s 2015 coach of the year. Before Schmidt was appointed, the RA chief executive Phil Waugh did not rule out returning to Cheika as a candidate. Prior to Leicester, Cheika also enjoyed a successful spell with Argentina as first an assistant and then head coach.
Other contenders for the role would include Les Kiss, the former London Irish head coach and Ireland assistant now with the Queensland Reds, who finished last year’s Super Rugby Pacific competition in fifth place.
Stephen Larkham, the great fly-half who was previously Cheika’s attack coach, is now head coach at the Brumbies and would have to be another contender following consecutive Super Rugby Pacific semi-final appearances since Larkham took charge after returning from Munster.
Losing Schmidt later this year is a blow, no question. But whether it is Cheika or Kiss or Larkham, whoever takes over will have plenty to work with. Angus Bell, Taniela Tupou, Fraser McReight and Rob Valetini all look top players in the pack, with Noah Lolesio, Len Ikitau, Sua’ali’i, Andrew Kellaway and Tom Wright all having big years in 2024. That’s before mentioning the proven quality of veterans Will Skelton and Samu Kerevi as well.
What once appeared to be a nightmare job to take on after the disastrous end to Eddie Jones’ tenure now, as a result of Schmidt’s good work, is far more appealing. But Rugby Australia have to move fast to get this successor signed up, given how close they are to hosting the World Cup for the first time in 24 years, but to also ensure any transition goes as smoothly as possible and that Schmidt’s hard work does not go to waste.
