Joe Schmidt's international coaching career is coming full circle – but this time it won't be with Ireland or Leinster. The 60-year-old Kiwi boss has made it clear that he won't be extending his stay as Australia coach, handing over the reins to Les Kiss after a series of crunch matches against Ireland, France, and Italy.
It's the end of an era for Schmidt, who lit up the international stage with three Six Nations titles – including that unforgettable Grand Slam in 2018. Now, as he prepares to bow out, he's made it crystal clear: no more head-coaching ambitions for him. "I don't feel like I need to be a head coach," he declared firmly. "No way do I want to be a national head coach."
But the whispers of a Leinster return will sting – especially since his son is already working for the Dublin club! The Kiwi boss laughed it off: "They've got my son on board, so they don't need the whole family!" When asked straight out if he'd consider coming back to Leinster, Schmidt's response was swift and final: "Not at the moment." He still rates them as a "juggernaut", but made it clear that elusive European silverware is just that – elusive.
Now, with a personal chapter awaiting him, Schmidt's got one eye on his Australian exit. "I'll be in Ireland on August 10th to see my new grandson," he said, a clear sign of his shift in focus away from the high-pressure world of international rugby coaching.