Joe Schmidt confirmed as Wallabies coach, set to walk away after two-years

New Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt has revealed he only intends to stay on for two years. But unlike his predecessor Eddie Jones, Schmidt’s plans are motivated by something much bigger.

If everything goes according to plan, the new Wallabies’ coach Joe Schmidt won’t be hanging around too long, revealing on the same day he got the job that he only intends to spend two years in what’s regarded as one of the hardest roles in Australian sport.

But unlike his predecessor Eddie Jones, who deserted the Wallabies less than a year after overseeing the disastrous World Cup campaign, Schmidt’s selfless plans are motivated by something much bigger.

Although Rugby Australia (RA) is hosting the next World Cup in 2027, Schmidt only wanted a two-year deal, taking him through to next year’s crucial British and Irish Lions series.

But the reason he wants out early is not because he doesn’t think he’s up to it, or that RA doesn’t want him. It’s because the highly sought-after New Zealander is prioritising his family and the long term interests of Australian rugby.

New Wallabies Head Coach Joe Schmidt admits he won’t be the long-term coach, as he looks to rebuild the team after a disastrous World Cup campaign. Picture: David Swift

“It’s pretty much public knowledge that I have a young man at home who suffers quite badly with epilepsy and this job will take me away from the time that I’d sort of committed to pitching in and helping him,” Schmidt said.

“So if we can get the job done over the next 18 months and we can get the momentum heading in the right direction, then I’ll feel like I’ve done my part of it and I’ll be happy to hand on.”

Schmidt’s homespun approach to balancing family life and professional sport is exactly the reason why RA selected him as the man to rebuild Australian rugby.

RA’s new high performance director Peter Horne, who led the recruitment process, had plenty of other credentialed coaches to choose from, including other Australians, but said Schmidt was a unanimous choice.

“Joe’s got an international career that’s well decorated. He’s highly successful,” Horne said.

“But the other thing that you probably won’t get to know yet and you will get to know is Joe’s a very, very caring individual. That’s a great human that actually really endears himself into a team and brings players forward.

“He cares about his staff, but not only that, he actually cares about what he does and I think those two pieces, not only being a great coach, but also someone that’s actually going to bring us together on a journey is really, really important in creating a team but more broadly, in terms of us creating an organisation that we’re no longer about me but we’re about we.”

Unlike his predecessor Eddie Jones, Schmidt’s selfless plans to leave after two-years are motivated by family. His son Luke suffers from severe epilepsy. Picture: Nicole Cleary

RA has made some stupid decisions over the years but signing Schmidt is unlikely to be one of them because the 58-year-old former schoolteacher is one of rugby’s coaching elite.

He took Ireland to No. 1 in the world, winning three Six Nations championships and a grand slam, and was assistant to the All Blacks’ team that reached last year’s World Cup final in Paris.

But he’s also under no illusions about the enormity of the challenge he faces, with the Wallabies due to play their opening test in 2024 against Wales in less than six months.

They also have the Rugby Championship and a grand slam tour of Europe before hosting the Lions in 2025 and Schmidt knows the only thing that will appease long-suffering Wallabies’ fans is victories on the field.

At his first press conference after being appointed to the role, he said he hopes to turn things around quickly, but pleaded for patience, saying it may take time.

“I’m not great at selling dreams, dreams are not tangible,” he said.

“I’m a pragmatic sort of individual, probably characterised as boring. I don’t have probably the charisma that Eddie has.

“But I’m desperate for the Wallabies to be competitive. And if I can help, that’s why I’m here.

“I think the global rugby family is desperate for the Wallabies to be where they need to be. You know, British and Irish Lions, they want to have a fantastic series.”

Schmidt has the full backing of Rugby Australia CEO Phil Waugh (left) and Director of High-Performance Peter Horne (right). Picture: David Swift

That’s also the same time when Schmidt plans to exit, but not with his tail between his legs. Rather, he wants the code to be in rude health and an Australian ready to take over the reins.

“I’m really keen to try to help get some of the Australian coaches a little bit more experience as well so they can pitch up and lead the Wallabies,” he said.

“It’s certainly not a hit and run. For both RA and myself, it’s just a good fit at that time.

“If you were going to make a change for the World Cup, you don’t want to do it a year out. You want to make sure that you’ve got a decent run at it.”

RA chief executive Phil Waugh is a believer. He said he had no doubts Schmidt was the right man, not only to rebuild the Wallabies but also to help implement a new centralised program.

“Given our stated plan to build a unified Australian Rugby system, Joe’s experience with Ireland and New Zealand – two of the most aligned Rugby nations in the world – will no doubt prove valuable as we move forward,” Waugh said.

“He has a global view of the game from his experience in both the Northern and Southern hemispheres, and his appointment puts us in a strong position as we build towards the 2025 British and Irish Lions Tour.”

TESTING TIME AHEAD AS NEW WALLABIES COACH OFFICIALLY UNVEILED

New Zealand’s Joe Schmidt has been formally appointed as the Wallabies’ head coach for the next two years, taking over from Eddie Jones after the trainwreck of last year’s World Cup.

Schmidt is the third Kiwi to take over the challenging role of trying to steer the woeful Wallabies back to the glory days when they were kings of the world.

Regarded as one of the smartest rugby brains in the world after steering Ireland to the top of the rankings and helping the All Blacks reach last year’s World Cup final in Paris, Schmidt takes over at a testing time with Australian rugby at rock bottom, struggling on and off the field.

A former schoolteacher, Schmidt faces a huge task turning things around but Rugby Australia CEO Phil Waugh said he was a proven performer and the right man for the job.

“Joe has delivered success at every stop in his career – winning European titles with

Leinster, winning Six Nations championships, leading Ireland to world number one for the first time and, most recently, his role in the All Blacks’ run to the Rugby World Cup final,” Waugh said.

“He has also been a world coach of the year after he won the Six Nations Grand Slam in 2018.

“Given our stated plan to build a unified Australian Rugby system, Joe’s experience with Ireland and New Zealand – two of the most aligned rugby nations in the world – will no doubt prove valuable as we move forward.

“He has a global view of the game from his experience in both the Northern and Southern hemispheres, and his appointment puts us in a strong position as we build towards the 2025 British and Irish Lions Tour.”

Joe Schmidt s the third Kiwi to take over as Wallabies coach. Picture: AFP

Schmidt, 58, is under no illusion about the enormity of the challenge he faces, with the Wallabies due to play their opening test in 2024 against Wales in less than six months.

Under Jones, the Wallabies failed to make it out of the pool stage at the World Cup for the first time and are facing a race against time to be competitive when the British and Irish Lions tour Down Under in 2025 before Australia hosts the next World Cup in 2027.

“I am conscious that the Wallabies have weathered a difficult period, and I am keen to help them build a way forward, with greater alignment and clear direction from RA,” Schmidt said.

“The upcoming Test matches against Wales will arrive quickly, post-Super Rugby, and the program through to the British and Irish Lions Tour next year presents plenty of

opportunities and challenges – which I am sure will invigorate players and staff.

“I am looking forward to connecting with Super Rugby coaches, RA staff, and getting to observe and meet players in the coming months.”

RA has not had much luck with Kiwis coaches in the past, with Robbie Deans quitting and Dave Rennie getting the sack.

Joe Schmidt is regarded as one of the sharpest minds in world rugby.

Three Aussies, Michael Cheika, Stephen Larkham and Dan McKellar, were all linked with the new role but missed out to Schmidt, who will report to Rugby Australia’s new director of high-performance, Peter Horne, in a new structure realigning the code’s high-performance programs.

Horne led the recruitment process but said Schmidt was a unanimous pick with everyone involved in selecting the new coach.

“It has been a thorough process to make sure that we have landed the best and most

suitable candidate – conducted by a panel including Dan Herbert and Phil Waugh, Joe Roff, John Eales, David Nucifora, RA’s head of people and culture and myself,” Horne said.

“It was a unanimous decision to appoint Joe – everyone on the panel was impressed by his demeanour, his calm and logical approach to the game, as well as his communication style.

“Throughout his career, Joe has demonstrated an ability to take a leadership role in

structural reform while developing a strong culture and world-class players.

“From my personal experience working with Joe at World Rugby, he is an ideal fit for the Wallabies and Australian Rugby at this time, and I am looking forward to working closely with him on developing a stronger alignment with our Super Rugby clubs to maximise

our performances.”

With the ink still drying on his two-year contract, Schmidt will officially take over on March 1. He has yet to name his assistants.

The Wallabies face a busy schedule in 2024 with 13 matches pencilled in, starting in July with two Tests against Wales then one against Georgia.

They also have two matches each against New Zealand, South Africa and Argentina before travelling to Europe in November to attempt the Grand Slam — against England, Ireland, Wales and Scotland.