Rugby Australia open to shake-up as search for Joe Schmidt replacement enters third month

Rugby Australia chief executive Phil Waugh is open to allowing the new Wallabies coach to also hold a Super Rugby position, as the search for Joe Schmidt's replacement enter a third month.

On Wednesday morning, Waugh said the search for Schmidt's successor was "well and truly at the final stages".

Schmidt confirmed he would end his stint after the British and Irish Lions tour and then a final Bledisloe Cup campaign.

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Queensland Reds coach Les Kiss remains the frontrunner for the role, although Michael Cheika, Dan McKellar, Stephen Larkham, ex-Wales coach Warren Gatland and former England coach Stuart Lancaster have all been linked.

Allowing the Wallabies coach to hold another coaching position would be a step away from a longstanding norm.

"What we've done historically is talked about a Wallaby head coach, and that takes all the attention away from assistant coaches, what's happening within the Super Rugby environments," Waugh told media including Wide World of Sports on Wednesday.

"We're focusing on (getting) the best possible coaches in the Super Rugby environment, because if you can't win at the Super Rugby level, you can't win test matches.

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"We're confident we'll get the balance right between shared services or resources, and ensuring that we've got the world's best coaches leading the international program.

"We're going to get to the best possible outcome, and if that includes shared services, job share kind of things, then we'll do that."

League convert Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii said there was "no rush" in finding Schmidt's replacement, and the playing group had faith in the Rugby Australia board.

"For myself personally, I'm not really too stressed about it," he said.

"As a playing group we trust in the board picking the right person for the job. I feel like there's no rush. I feel like as an organisation, we need to take our time because it's going to be a really important decision."

News broke last week his Wallabies teammate Noah Lolesio had put his spot in the side for the Lions tour in jeopardy by signing a deal to play in Japan.

Suaalii said he understood why players might make the decision.

The next Wallabies coach will take the team through the home World Cup next year.

Schmidt's last match as coach will be on October 4.