Fresh twist in Wallabies coaching handover as Joe Schmidt to remain in charge until mid-2026
Updated . First published
Rugby Australia is poised to announce Les Kiss as the new Wallabies coach on Wednesday - but there has been a twist in the tale.
Kiss, 60, will become Australia's fifth coach of the top men's side in the past seven years according to reports from The Sydney Morning Herald.
He will replace Joe Schmidt, who told Rugby Australia in February that he would vacate the role for family reasons after the Rugby Championship ends in October.
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However, according to the Herald, that initial plan won't take place, with Schmidt now set to remain at the helm for the spring tour later this year and well into 2026.
Kiss is contracted to coach the Queensland Reds until the end next year's Super Rugby competition and won't take over the national team job until that deal expires.
The former rugby league winger represented Australia and Queensland in the 13-player code before starting a coaching career in rugby.
That journey began with the Springboks as a defence coach in 2001 and took him to the NSW Waratahs as an assistant soon after.
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Les Kiss with the Reds. Getty
He helped Ireland win the Six Nations in 2009 and has gone to two World Cups.
He took over the Reds in 2023 and will now lead the Wallabies.
Former Aussie star Nick Phipps, who played under Kiss at the London Irish, told Stan Sport earlier this month his former coach would be able to handle both the Wallabies and Reds at the same time if asked.
"He would definitely be able to do it," Phipps said.
"Kissy is a workaholic. He loves it. He doesn't just do what he has to do, he genuinely loves it. He is always walking around with a little iPad everywhere and he sees you and grabs you and you're there for 40 minutes talking footy."
Kiss and Schmidt will front media for a press conference on Wednesday morning.
