Rugby Australia chief backs Schmidt to stay the course until July handover

Paris: Rugby Australia has backed Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt after three straight defeats and said there was “no indication” that the New Zealander would leave his role before next July.

The Wallabies arrived in Paris on Saturday (Sunday morning, AEDT) for their final Test of the year, against France at the Stade de France this weekend. Monday’s regular media session with players was cancelled.

Schmidt’s tenure will conclude after the July Tests against Ireland, France and Italy as part of the new Nations Championship in 2026, with Reds coach Les Kiss taking over in August for a likely home and away series against Japan.

Schmidt has led the Wallabies through 14 Tests this season, including the Rugby Championship and the British and Irish Lions series, having taken over last March and given 19 players their Test debuts in his first year.

Originally due to step down at the end of this year’s Rugby Championship, Schmidt agreed to extend his stay to allow Kiss to fulfil his commitments with the Reds.

“I’ve had no indication otherwise,” Rugby Australia chief executive Phil Waugh said when asked if he was confident the coach would see out his contract until next July. “We’re conscious of the work and external pressures, and we need to ensure that we put the right support around him – and I think we’re doing that.

“We’ll continue to do that to ensure that we continue that level of continuity and consistency within that environment, with Joe taking us through to the end of the Nations Championship at the end of July.

“We’re very confident with the strategy we have in place, confident with the integration into a new coach after the Nations Championship.”

Waugh reiterated his confidence in Schmidt’s commitment to the job.

“From everything I’ve seen and experienced with Joe from the moment that he committed to Australian rugby right through to standing here today, that level of commitment is absolutely 100 per cent,” Waugh said.

“I know because I’m corresponding with him frequently in terms of the hours that he’s doing to elevate the Wallabies and their performances. Also, there’s the broader connection across the Australian rugby community, and there’s never been a question of his commitment at any stage.

“I think it’s one of the elements that makes Joe such an impressive guy is just that he’s brutally honest, and he’s absolutely committed to whatever he puts his word to.”

Kiss has been in Europe during the spring tour, spending time with Schmidt before he returns to lead the Reds ahead of the Super Rugby season, and Waugh is confident that the delayed handover will benefit the Wallabies.

“That transition of Les [Kiss] into the head coaching role, working closely with Joe, we must ensure we’ve got continuity across the broader management team because I certainly don’t want it to be a fresh start,” Waugh said.

“It needs to be continued progress and continued continuity and that’s why we’ve secured a lot of the management through to the end of the 2027 Rugby World Cup to ensure that there is that level of continuity.

“The relationship that Joe and Les have, it’s been a long one. They’ve coached together, they’ve been in the same environment together, and they’ve got the same cultural beliefs.”

Waugh acknowledged the disappointment over the team’s results in Europe and said he hoped the Australian rugby public would set the defeats into the context of the whole season, which included victories against South Africa in Johannesburg and the Lions in Sydney.

“Whilst we’ve had a disappointing few weeks, I think that people hopefully can reflect on the journey that we’re on and the progress that’s been made,” Waugh said.

“Whilst the tour has been disappointing in terms of results, you reflect on where we were 12 months ago and then the journey into the Lions Series and obviously the victories within the Rugby Championship...

“I know we’ve got a responsibility to all those that are watching and following, ultimately it’s our responsibility to perform and there are no excuses being made. We understand that responsibility and the players understand that responsibility.”