Next month’s Wallabies exit won’t be a permanent goodbye for Joe Schmidt, who is set to take up a coaching role with Australia A later this year.
As part of a staged handover to his successor Wallabies coach Les Kiss, Schmidt finishes with the Wallabies after the third Nations Championship Test against Italy in Perth on July 18.
Kiss will then take the reins as Wallabies head coach, starting with two Tests against Japan in August.
Beyond saying he will “stay loyal” and not join a rival nation for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, Schmidt has remained coy about whether he will continue working in Australian rugby in any formal capacity.
But that question has been answered with the New Zealander to join the staff of Australia A – the second XV behind the Wallabies – on a two-game tour of the US in October, according to informed sources who are not permitted to comment.
Schmidt will be part of a new Australia A coaching team that will see Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham appointed as head coach, and Simon Cron also acting an assistant coach.
The dates of the Australia A fixtures are yet to be locked in but are likely to see two games against the USA Eagles, who have qualified for the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
Schmidt is stepping away from the Wallabies’ head coach role to dedicate more time to his family, and son Luke, who has severe epilepsy.
After taking up the Wallabies’ head coach role in 2024, Schmidt originally only committed to coaching the side through to the end of the British and Irish Lions series in August last year.
But at RA’s request, Schmidt extended his time with the side several times thereafter, firstly to the end of 2025, and then through to the end of July this year – to help accommodate Kiss finishing his third year in Super Rugby Pacific with the Reds.
Rugby Australia has been hopeful of convincing Schmidt to stay involved as a consultant with the Wallabies, and Australian rugby, through to the 2027 Rugby World Cup, but the coach has repeatedly stop short of committing to anything beyond being a phone-a-friend option for Kiss.
Informed sources say Schmidt is highly mindful of Kiss taking full ownership of the team, without him clouding the picture by hovering in the background. He intends to travel back to Ireland for several months after handing over to Kiss in July.
But the Australia A role in October will see Schmidt pull back on the Australian colours, and while it appears like a demotion, the assistant job is a deliberately understated choice. Though mostly a career head coach in France, Ireland and Australia, Schmidt served as a senior assistant coach for the All Blacks in 2022 and 2023.
The likelihood of Schmidt taking up a similar role for the Wallabies next year, leading into the Rugby World Cup, will be strengthened by the Australia A appointment.
Kiss’ assistant coaches are soon to be confirmed. Scott McLeod (defence) and Reds coaching co-ordinator Jon Fisher have been confirmed on staff, and lineout coach Tom Donnelly will be staying on, and so too young scrum coach John Ulugia, who’ll be mentored by Mike Cron. Kiss is expected to fill the attack coach role.
Meanwhile, exciting Reds star and PNG Chiefs target Treyvon Pritchard has been named in the Junior Wallabies squad for the under 20s World Championship later this month.
Junior Wallabies coach Chris Whitaker named a 31-man squad for the tournament in Georgia, which begins for Australia against Spain under 20s on Sunday 28 June, and then pool games against Fiji and France.
As revealed by this masthead, two France-based props were included for the first time – Lehopo Leota and Kingbenjamin Swerling-Finaipepe – and the squad was also bolstered by Aussie sevens speedsters Wallace Charlie and Cooper Watters.
NSW had the most representatives with 14, including Zach Fittler, but Queensland’s Tom Robinson – son of ex-Wallaby and World Rugby chairman Brett Robinson – was named as captain.
“We’re pretty excited, we’ve got a talented group and feel like we are ready to embrace the challenge of competing on this world stage,” Whitaker said.
“We have got a tricky pool with Spain, Fiji and the Six Nations champions, France, but we will go into the games with confidence and give it our all.”
Iain Payten is a senior sports reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald.Connect via X or email.