Former Ireland Coach Has No Plans
New Zealand coach Joe Schmidt has confirmed that he has no intention of extending his international coaching career after leaving Australia. The experienced coach will step down as Wallabies boss after this month’s Nations Championship matches against Ireland, France, and Italy.
Schmidt explained that he no longer feels the need to lead a national team or take on another head coaching role. Instead, he wants to step away from the pressures of top level rugby and focus on other priorities in life.
He said he is fully focused on helping Australia perform well in their final three matches before officially handing over the team to incoming head coach Les Kiss.
Schmidt Rejects Immediate Return to Leinster
Joe Schmidt also dismissed suggestions that he could return to Leinster, the club where he enjoyed one of the most successful periods of his coaching career.
The 60 year old guided Leinster to back to back European Cup titles before becoming Ireland’s head coach in 2013. During his six years with Ireland, he won three Six Nations Championships, including the famous Grand Slam triumph in 2018.
Despite his strong connection with Leinster, Schmidt joked that the province already employs his son, so there is no need for the entire family to work there.
He also praised the current Leinster squad for maintaining high standards and remaining one of Europe’s strongest rugby teams. While they have narrowly missed European success in recent seasons, he believes the club continues to perform consistently at the highest level.
Family Comes Before Another Coaching Job
When asked directly if he would consider replacing Leo Cullen after the 2026 to 2027 season, Schmidt made his position clear.
He said he is only thinking about Australia’s remaining fixtures and has no plans to accept another coaching role at this stage. According to Schmidt, the Wallabies have developed into a group that can continue improving under Les Kiss without relying on him.
The veteran coach also revealed that he plans to travel to Ireland on 10 August to meet his newborn grandson. He said spending time with family is now a much bigger priority than returning to the sidelines.
Les Kiss Set to Lead Australia’s Next Chapter
Australia will begin a new era under Les Kiss once Schmidt’s tenure officially ends. Schmidt believes the transition will be smooth because the players have matured and are ready to move forward with new leadership.
His departure marks the end of another successful chapter in an impressive coaching career that has included major achievements with Leinster, Ireland, and Australia. While many supporters hoped he might return to Irish rugby, Schmidt has made it clear that coaching is no longer his main focus.
For now, his attention remains on finishing Australia’s campaign strongly before enjoying a well earned break with his family.
