In a bombshell development, Les Kiss is set to be unveiled as Joe Schmidt’s successor on Thursday – but the Reds coach won’t start in the role for more than a year.
The Roar understands that Rugby Australia didn’t want to pay a compensation fee to the Queensland Rugby Union to take over from Schmidt immediately after The Rugby Championship in early October.
Kiss was expected to lead the Wallabies against Japan on October 25, before a four-Test tour of Europe and the United Kingdom.
Instead, sources have told The Roar that Schmidt will continue to oversee the Wallabies’ program for the rest of the year, having extended his deal for the second time this year. It comes after Rugby Australia announced in February that Schmidt had extended his deal with the Wallabies beyond the Lions series through to the TRC finale against the All Blacks on October 4, before stepping away from the role.
Rugby Australia is expected to confirm the update on Wednesday in Sydney.
Queensland Reds head coach Les Kiss will see out his contract with the QRU. (Photo by Michael Bradley/Getty Images)
The Roar understands both Rugby Australia and the Queensland Rugby Union are happy with the result.
Not only have Rugby Australia settled on their preferred candidate, but the QRU will have more than a year to work out who is the best person to take over from the former Queensland and Australian Kangaroos winger.
The QRU, who aren’t controlled by RA like the Waratahs and Brumbies, will also celebrate the result because it reaffirms their independence with the governing body.
Indeed, with Kiss not having an international clause in his contract, the QRU will likely see it as a win that they get to retain the services of the coach and his assistants during a time when they think they should be challenging for a second title.
Joe Schmidt will stay on as Wallabies coach through 2025, before Les Kiss transitions into the role. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)
While the decision will raise eyebrows across the land, it’s not unprecedented for a coaching change less than two years out from a World Cup.
Indeed, Michael Cheika was appointed ahead of the 2014 Spring Tour and led the Wallabies to a World Cup final one year later.
Springboks boss Rassie Erasmus also took charge of South Africa in mid-2018 and then led the rugby powerhouse to World Cup glory in 2019.
The question is whether Kiss will be able to have the same immediate impact as Cheika.
