Les Kiss won’t officially join the Wallabies for more than a year, but the transition to his coaching staff has already begun with Zane Hilton to join Joe Schmidt’s team for The Rugby Championship – and the decision could have major ramifications for the next Queensland head coach.

With current lineout coach Geoff Parling taking over from Michael Cheika at Leicester Tigers, The Roar understands that Hilton, Kiss’ forwards coach at the Reds, will join Schmidt’s Wallabies team.

The Reds forwards coach is believed to have edged out Brumbies assistant Ben Mowen for the vacant role.

The decision isn’t surprising given Hilton was a part of the Australia A coaching team in 2024 and will join Kiss and famed All Blacks coach Ian Foster for the upcoming AUNZ clash at Adelaide Oval against the Lions.

The fact that Kiss would have a key member of his support staff at the Reds join him at the Wallabies also makes sense. Others from the Reds are expected to join too, with Jonathan Fisher expected to follow Kiss to the Wallabies in mid-2026.

Reds forwards coach Zane Hilton is expected to join the Wallabies’ coaching staff. Photo: Queensland Reds

Hilton will still be with the Reds in 2026, but whether he stays at Ballymore in 2027 – the year of the home World Cup – remains to be seen.

The ambitious coach had wanted to succeed Kiss at the Reds, and is still thought to be thinking about going for the role, but given the importance of the home World Cup, it’s unlikely he would be able to split his time.

That means the Reds could well have to look at someone outside the current walls at Ballymore for Kiss’ replacement.