New Wallabies coach to be unveiled mid April as Les Kiss firms for job while new broadcast deal appears close

While it might have taken longer than CEO Phil Waugh would have liked, Australia’s search for a new Wallabies coach - and a new broadcast deal - are both nearing a conclusion.

DUNEDIN, NEW ZEALAND - MARCH 22: Coach Les Kiss of the Reds looks on ahead of the round six Super Rugby Pacific match between Highlanders and Queensland Reds at Forsyth Barr Stadium, on March 22, 2025, in Dunedin, New Zealand. (Photo by Joe Allison/Getty Images)

With the broadcast deal inching closer to being announced, Rugby Australia is set to have their two major headaches resolved within a fortnight.

Insiders suggest that RA’s five-year extension with Nine and Stan Sport could be unveiled next week, followed by the revelation of the new Wallabies coach.

It has taken much longer than they expected for both to be finalised.

The broadcast deal is understood to have been agreed to in principal for some weeks, but intricate details are still being negotiated by the parties.

Rugby Australia CEO Phil Waugh has admitted that the broadcast and coaching search have dragged on longer that he had hoped. Picture: Tim Hunter.

The coaching saga has also dragged on far longer than even RA chief Phil Waugh had hoped, but he explained they must consider the ramifications beyond just the one job to replace Joe Schmidt, who will step down after The Rugby Championship but hopes to remain involved in some capacity through to the 2027 World Cup.

“It’s a fairly targeted approach in terms of how we think that the next coach and the success will continue, the same continuity and cultural continuity and progress that the team’s been making,” Waugh told Code Sports.

“And so we’ve been working on it for some time in terms of who those options could be. And it’s not just what does it mean for Wallabies? It’s also, how’s that filter into assistant coaches? How’s that filter across several rugby teams?

“And so it’s probably a more holistic solution than just looking at the head coach.

“And Joe Schmidt’s a very difficult guy to emulate and to replace, given his stature in the game as a world-class coach.

“So we’re just making sure that we’re going through the right process and it’s considered and we land at the right outcome for the players, for our stakeholders and for all Australians to set ourselves up for success at 27.”

Queensland’s Les Kiss remains the leading candidate.

Reds head coach, Les Kiss has firmed as first choice to be the Wallabies next coach. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

Should he get the job, he may also want to bring some of his Reds assistants to the Wallabies. And given they’re contracted to Queensland Rugby Union, there must be several negotiations around the potential release of targets.

Waugh said earlier this year that the new Wallabies coach would be announced within the opening rounds of Super Rugby, which is now heading into its third month.

“I said weeks, not months, and we’re sort of creeping into months, so I’m conscious of that,” Waugh said.

“We’re hopefully pretty close.

“I’ve been pretty considerate around appointments and making sure we go through the right process and right due diligence. And we’re getting to the pointy end of that selection process. We want to provide clarity and certainty to everyone, really.

“So the sooner we can do it, the better.”

The Reds have a bye in a fortnight, so if Kiss is the man, that week starting April 14 would seem the obvious time to make the announcement.

“Hopefully within the next fortnight, I don’t want to put timelines on it,” Waugh said.

“I’m hoping that within the next fortnight, we can get to an outcome.”

Former England coach Stuart Lancaster has been linked to the job, but also rumoured to be a potential candidate at the Reds to replace Kiss if he gets the Wallabies gig.

Former England coach Stuart Lancaster has been linked to the job, but also rumoured to be a potential candidate at the Reds to replace Kiss if he gets the Wallabies gig. Picture: David Rogers/Getty Images

The QRU will run their own coaching appointment process if Kiss is appointed national coach.

“Stuart’s obviously a world-class coach, so I think that we need world-class coaches in Australian rugby,” Waugh said.

“We’re not going to speculate or socialise the exact names that we’re talking to, but we’ve had a fair few conversations with a lot of world-class coaches.

“And it’s been pretty targeted. From where we were 12 months ago to where we are now, I think the attractiveness of the role, just because things have stabilised across the game and we’re starting to see improved performances - I don’t think we’re anywhere near where we need to be, but there’s been progress in performances - and so I think that the proactive, inbound approaches we’ve had for the role have been materially higher than what they were when Joe took on the role.”

Originally published as New Wallabies coach to be unveiled mid April as Les Kiss firms for job while new broadcast deal appears close