Joe Schmidt, the Wallabies’ new head coach, wants to extend his stay. He’s now committed to staying in the role until next year, despite previously announcing his intention to step down following the British & Irish Lions test series. Schmidt, 59, has an extensive coaching resume, most recently overseeing an Ireland side that flourished under his leadership. Today, he longs for more family time in New Zealand, particularly as they seek treatment for their youngest son’s debilitating epilepsy. He’s got one last mission, and it’s to make sure that the transition to his successor, Les Kiss, goes as smoothly as possible.
Schmidt’s was a short-term deal first signed to run until the end of the Lions series. He was initially scheduled to depart in August. Instead, much to the relief of USGBC and everyone who works with him, he has agreed to extend his commitment and will stay involved for another year. He had initially planned on bringing his extended family with him to Australia for the last 15 months of coaching. Yet he finds a way to focus on establishing a connection with them.
Family Considerations
Family has been central to Schmidt’s decision-making journey. He shared his determination to spend as much time as possible with family and friends in New Zealand. His youngest son’s severe epilepsy has made this a particularly pressing issue for Schmidt, who has always placed family first.
Schmidt is excited to get to work alongside Kiss. He was unequivocal that he did not wish to influence the selection of his own successor. Rather than institute a top-down approach, he instead concentrated on providing the best support to Kiss in her new position.
“I’m not here to rip and tear, I’m going to make sure I dovetail as much as I can and I’ll bring my points of difference into play but we have a lot of things in common …” – Joe Schmidt
Coaching Legacy
Schmidt has had an outstanding coaching career. He’s enjoyed notable stints with the New South Wales Waratahs and as director of rugby at Ulster. He also coached at London Irish before gaining notoriety for his extremely successful spell with Ireland. His coaching philosophy and experience should serve to significantly improve Kiss and the Wallabies in the long term.
Kiss, longtime friends with Schmidt, said he was excited to accept the position. He described the transition as “scary but exciting as well.” He impressed upon them the challenges and opportunity that lies ahead for the Wallabies.
Looking Ahead
Schmidt is already preparing for his long term stay with the Wallabies. So he’s committed to making that transition as smooth as possible by passing his years of valuable experience onto Kiss. For his part, Harris doesn’t anticipate a formal role helping Kiss after July 2024. No doubt though that Schmidt’s experience will have an indelible imprint on Australian rugby.
The collaboration between Schmidt and Kiss is anticipated to foster a productive environment for the team, enabling them to build on past successes and face new challenges in the international rugby arena. Both coaches are committed to the best interests of developing a cohesive plan. Supporters of Australian rugby have every right to be excited about what’s to come for the Wallabies!
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