The Jo(e) glow: How Australia jagged a pair of world-renowned coaches

When news broke that Joe Schmidt had agreed to coach the Wallabies, his phone pinged with some texts from All Blacks players.

Schmidt had just finished up as an assistant coach with New Zealand at the 2023 Rugby World Cup, where the All Blacks had lost in the final to South Africa.

Jo Yapp, coach of the Wallaroos, and Joe Schmidt, coach of the Wallabies, at Allianz Stadium.Credit: Brendan Hertel/Rugby Australia

The Wallabies had long since gone home by that day, though, and when Schmidt’s appointment in Australia emerged a few months later, those texts could have easily contained some not-so-gentle queries about the New Zealand coach’s sanity.

“But it’s funny, some of the All Black boys messaged me and shoot, they never want to lose to the Wallabies, but they were very supportive,” Schmidt said.

“They were saying it was important our corner of the world is as strong as it can be.”

Schmidt got down to work and seven months on, the 62-year-old will coach his first Wallabies Test on Saturday night against Wales at Allianz Stadium. A few hours before, Englishwoman Jo Yapp will put the Wallaroos on the field to meet Fiji as part of a Test double-header, her fourth Test with the Australian side.

Coach Joe Schmidt and Fraser McReight talk during a Wallabies training session in Brisbane.Credit: Getty Images

If still-glum Australian rugby fans are searching for a fingerhold of optimism, then they can do worse than the simple sight of the new coaching pair being at Allianz in green and gold. Both are so well regarded in world rugby that Rugby Australia recruiting them was met globally as very good – but equally surprising – bits of business.

Schmidt became known as one of the world’s best coaches when he moved from a successful provincial career to take over Ireland in 2013. From their lowest-ever ranking of ninth, Schmidt turned Ireland into the world No.1 side by 2019, and along the way won 71 per cent of Tests and three Six Nations titles. In 2016 Ireland beat New Zealand for the first time in 111 years.

Schmidt returned to New Zealand in 2020 and worked for World Rugby, before joining the All Blacks staff in 2022 and 2023.

He was “looking forward to being bored” in semi-retirement in 2024 when new Rugby Australia high performance boss Peter Horne, a former World Rugby colleague, reached out in December and asked the question: would you be interested in coaching the Wallabies?

They had a sudden vacancy.

“I worked with Pete and I have a fair bit of time for him but to be honest, I wasn’t looking for a job,” Schmidt said.

“Pete rang and asked if I would be prepared to chip in, and things progressed. I said I would commit to trying to help out and try to draw a line.”

After a ring around for advice that included ex-Wallabies coach Dave Rennie, Schmidt signed on. It is only until the end of the British and Irish Lions series at the end of July next year, for now, but there are no shortage of crossed fingers he’ll stay on, through to 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia.

Rugby Australia CEO Phil Waugh (left) with new Wallaroos head coach Jo Yapp (right).Credit: Kate Geraghty

“I don’t have any secret formula to make it stronger, but I will work bloody hard,” he said.

“I will work hard and fight to strengthen this half of our corner [Australia]. Even in a wider context of world rugby, world rugby needs Australia to be competitive. Particularly with the Lions coming.”

The story of Yapp coming to Australia shares some similarity, in the sense it was a chance recruitment, and the opportunity to try and fulfil the potential of Australian women’s rugby was a big driver.

Yapp was a 70-cap England halfback who moved into coaching, and after building a successful career was last year seen as a front-runner to become the first female coach of England, who have been world No.1 for many years.

She stayed loyal to club Worcester, though, as it experienced major financial troubles. Former All Blacks coach John Mitchell got the job but Worcester ended up folding in a few months later, leaving RA to swoop on Yapp. She is the Wallaroos first full-time coach.

“So the Aussies have pulled off a robbery, pinching one of the world’s best coaches right as she is coming into her full power,” women’s rugby expert Alice Soper wrote.

Yapp said the ability to get in on the ground floor of Australian women’s rugby, with more investment and the 2029 Women’s Rugby World Cup coming, was appealing.

“The idea of developing this group, there is so much talent over here and to be able to build something, that’s what I have always enjoyed doing. There was so much opportunity to grow within this squad, and also in the programs around it. That excited me,” Yapp said.

“I love rugby union, and the players over here, you can see how much they want to progress and develop. I want to be a part of that.”

Insiders say Schmidt and Yapp are similar characters, quietly efficient and long-term planners. They trade text messages often and brought their respective teams together for a rare joint dinner on Tuesday night in Sydney.

Foreign coaches of the Wallabies (read New Zealanders) have encountered pockets of opposition in the past but Schmidt says he has only encountered support and optimism in Australia, so far.

“The Australian people have been awesome,” he said. “For me all I can only do my best, and if that’s good enough for the Australian public or for the team to get back up into the top six or higher, that’ll be what will be.

“But it won’t be for a lack of effort, I can tell you that much.”

Watch every July International Test Rugby match ad-free, live and on demand on Stan Sport with All Blacks v England (Saturday 4:00pm AEST), Wallaroos v Fijiana (Saturday 4:30pm AEST), Japan v Maori All Blacks (Saturday 6:50pm AEST), Wallabies v Wales (Saturday 7:00pm AEST), South Africa v Ireland (Sunday 12:00am AEST) and Argentina v France (Sunday 4:50am AEST).