Joe Schmidt has been confirmed as the next head coach of the Wallabies, as Rugby Australia’s “reset” of the code gathers pace after the tumultuous reign of Eddie Jones.
New Zealand-born Schmidt, 58, will coach the Wallabies for the next two seasons, leading the embattled national side through to the 2025 British and Irish Lions tour, where Schmidt will match wits with his former Ireland protege, the new Lions coach, Andy Farrell.
“I am conscious that the Wallabies have weathered a difficult period,” Schmidt said. “And I am keen to help them build a way forward, with greater alignment and clear direction from RA.”
The appointment of Schmidt, who won three Six Nations crowns and the 2018 grand slam in a seven-year stint as head coach of Ireland, is a coup for RA which is desperate to move on from the Jones era.
Under Jones, the Wallabies won just two of nine Tests, plummeting to No 9 in the world rankings and enduring a humiliating 2023 World Cup where they were eliminated in the group stages for the first time.
Jones later walked out on his five-year deal with RA and promptly signed as head coach of Japan.
As chief adviser to New Zealand coach Ian Foster, Schmidt helped the All Blacks to the 2023 World Cup final.
He becomes the third New Zealander after Robbie Deans and Dave Rennie to coach Australia and beat out former Wallabies coach Michael Cheika and highly respected Brumbies coaches Dan McKellar and Stephen Larkham for the job.
But the RA chief executive, Phil Waugh, said Schmidt’s coaching record was undeniable and he was the unanimous choice of a selection panel including Waugh, RA chair Dan Herbert, president Joe Roff and former Wallabies captain John Eales.
“Joe has delivered success at every stop in his career,” Waugh said. “Given our stated plan to build a unified Australian Rugby system, Joe’s experience with Ireland and New Zealand – two of the most aligned Rugby nations in the world – will no doubt prove valuable as we move forward.
“He has a global view of the game from his experience in both the northern and southern hemispheres, and his appointment puts us in a strong position as we build towards the 2025 British and Irish Lions tour.”
Schmidt will report to RA’s new director of high-performance, Peter Horne, who he worked closely with at World Rugby’s high-performance team.
“It has been a thorough process to make sure that we have landed the best and most suitable candidate,” Horne said.
“Throughout his career, Joe has demonstrated an ability to take a leadership role in structural reform while developing a strong culture and world-class players.”
Schmidt will also reunite with Australian David Nucifora, who will return to RA in an advisory role after concluding his role as Ireland’s high-performance director after the Paris Olympics.
Together, Schmidt and Nucifora made Ireland the No 1 team in the world in 2019, a feat they will aim to emulate with the Wallabies.
Schmidt starts with the Wallabies on 1 March with his immediate focus the tour by Wales in July.
“The upcoming Test matches against Wales will arrive quickly,” Schmidt said.
“Super Rugby and the program through to the British and Irish Lions tour next year presents plenty of opportunities and challenges – which I am sure will invigorate players and staff.”
