New Wallabies’ coach may also work in Super Rugby under a shared-job arrangement, Phil Waugh reveals

It’s been a decade since a Wallabies boss also coached a Super Rugby team at the same time. The possibility is now open again, writes JAMIE PANDARAM.

RUGBY Australia boss Phil Waugh is open to the new Wallabies coach also coaching in Super Rugby next year, further installing Les Kiss as the favourite to take over from Joe Schmidt.

Kiss is contracted to the Queensland Reds until the end of the 2026 season, which would be one of the sticking points if he is elected as Schmidt’s successor.

Queensland’s head coach, Les Kiss talks with Tom Lynagh during a Super Rugby match in March. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

A decision is set to be made next week, and if Kiss is chosen, allowing him to continue wearing his Reds hat while also in charge of the national team may alleviate an ugly contractual dispute between the Queensland Rugby Union and RA.

“We’re going to get to the best possible outcome and if that includes shared services, job share kind of things, then we’ll do that,” Waugh said.

“What we’ll do is we’ll get the best environment to set the team up for success.”

Rugby Australia CEO Phil Waugh is looking for the best possible outcome, whether that includes a shared-job or not. Picture: Tim Hunter.

It will also be up to Kiss, if offered the Wallabies job, whether he wants to continue in both roles.

But the fact that it is on the table after such a lengthy search for a new Australian coach suggests Kiss is in the box seat.

The last Wallabies coach to also coach in Super Rugby was Michael Cheika, when he suddenly took over from Ewen McKenzie in 2014, led the NSW Waratahs in 2015 and spearheaded Australia’s charge to the World Cup final that same year.

Waugh said their search for a new Wallabies coach, who will take over from Schmidt after The Rugby Championship in October, had to take into consideration several other roles and factors.

Current Wallabies’ head coach Joe Schmidt. Picture: David Rogers/Getty Images

“We’re looking at the whole ecosystem, I think what we’ve done historically is talked about a Wallaby head coach and that takes all the attention away from assistant coaches, what’s happening within the Super Rugby environment, so we’re focusing on how to get the best possible coaches in the Super Rugby environment because if you can’t win at the Super Rugby level you can’t win Test matches,” Waugh said.

“We’ve seen that historically since 1996 in Super Rugby, so yeah we’re confident we’ll get the balance right between shared services or resources and ensuring that we’ve got the world’s best coaches leading the international program.”

Given RA has signed a new broadcast deal with Nine and Stan Sport that could deliver an additional $25 million in bonuses if the Wallabies win key games including the Bledisloe Cup and World Cup, pressure will be on the new coach to deliver immediately.

“I think that the pressure’s there, we need to perform,” Waugh said.

“If you look at the importance of 2025, the world rugby rankings in 2025 will go into the 2027 Rugby World Cup draw in January 2026. So the importance of success this year will set up then the possibility of having a nicer run for success in the home World Cup in 2027.”

Wallabies playmaker Noah Lolesio revealed this week that he is leaving Australian rugby to take up a contract in Japan, partly because of the continuing uncertainty around the next Wallabies coach.

“We’re working hard to provide clarity and given the uncertainty that the group has had over the last period of time, we lost a couple of players last year due to the environments they’ve been in, so we need to get to an outcome to provide clarity as soon as possible so that’s the journey we’re on,” Waugh said.

Originally published as New Wallabies’ coach may also work in Super Rugby under a shared-job arrangement, Phil Waugh reveals