Les Kiss firms as new Wallabies coach as Dan McKellar overlooked for interview
A clear favourite has emerged if the Wallabies opt for an Australian coach to replace Joe Schmidt, with one of the leading contenders for the job overlooked for an interview.
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The Wallabies coaching job is for Les Kiss to lose, with Rugby Australia not holding a formal interview with Waratahs coach Dan McKellar.
While RA has an evolving short-list and have not concluded their process, the fact Kiss has already made a presentation to RA’s panel while McKellar has so far been snubbed is the clearest indication that the Queenslander is set to replace Joe Schmidt in October.
Kiss has previously worked with Schmidt in Ireland and has been considered the frontrunner since Schmidt announced he would step down at the end of The Rugby Championship for family reasons, but was hopeful that his successor may keep him on board to help through to the 2027 World Cup.
READ MORE: Wallabies coaching hopefuls face off in Super Rugby clash
Based on information he’d been given, Kiss said last month he and the other Australian Super Rugby coaches had been spoken to by RA about the Wallabies job.
McKellar was surprised to hear that, telling reporters: “Have we? That’s news to me.
“I haven’t spoken to ‘Kissy’ in a couple of months but, no, honestly, I’m just cracking on and worrying about the Waratahs.
“I’m not expecting to be offered the Wallabies job.”
Unless there is a dramatic last-minute change at RA, McKellar’s prediction will prove to be correct.
When Code Sports contacted McKellar and asked him if he’d been interviewed for the Wallabies job, he would not comment.
However, sources confirmed no formal interview with McKellar has taken place.
The panel appointing the new coach, consisting of RA chief Phil Waugh, chairman Daniel Herbert, head of high performance Peter Horne, and Wallabies legend John Eales, has interviewed overseas candidates.
But it seems destined to land with Kiss, the former rugby league international who played State of Origin for Queensland and 100 games for North Sydney Bears.
McKellar is contracted with the Waratahs until the end of 2027, and has maintained since he began his tenure late last year that he was committed to the club and turning their fortunes around from 2024 wooden spooners.
He has so far engineered the perfect start, with NSW the only undefeated team remaining in Super Rugby Pacific after the opening month.
It is to this backdrop that McKellar and Kiss go head-to-head on Saturday night at Suncorp Stadium as the Reds host the Tahs.
If McKellar’s side knocks over Kiss’ Reds, it will be an awkward development to RA’s search for a new head coach.
But it won’t sway their decision-making.
McKellar was previously the Wallabies assistant coach to Dave Rennie, and was being groomed to take over following the 2023 World Cup, only for RA to sack Rennie eight months prior to the tournament in favour of Eddie Jones, who brought in a new team of assistants and then led Australia to their worst result in history.
For four years, McKellar was in charge of the Brumbies and made them the most dominant Australian team from 2018-22, before an ill-fated stint at Leicester Tigers.
But his instant transformation of the basket case Waratahs only makes it more peculiar that RA has not interviewed him for the Wallabies job.
The logistical hurdle if RA appoints Kiss, is that he is contracted to Queensland until the end of 2026.
The QRU will either want compensation, or explore the possibility of Kiss returning next year to coach the team while also being in charge of the Wallabies.
That is a remote outcome.
Already, there are whispers of who could replace Kiss at the Reds should he get the Wallabies job.
His assistant Zane Hilton is regarded as a rising talent.
But former England coach Stuart Lancaster is keen to coach in Australia, while former All Blacks assistant Leon MacDonald becomes a free agent in July once his short-term contract at Western Force expires.
There is also speculation that Schmidt’s assistant at the Wallabies, the highly respected Laurie Fisher, is considering stepping down at the end of the year, which would create another vacancy for the national team.
The new Wallabies coach will have a strong say in the team of assistants.
They will take over immediately following The Rugby Championship and begin preparing the Wallabies for the October 25 showdown against Jones’ Japan in Tokyo, before the four-Test spring tour in November.
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