New Zealander Schmidt confirmed as new Wallabies coach
Former Ireland coach Joe Schmidt vowed Friday to “get Australia up and running” after being named as the new Wallabies boss, replacing Eddie Jones.
Jones acrimoniously quit in October after the team’s calamitous World Cup campaign, just 10 months into a five-year contract, having won just two from nine Tests.
He has since been hired by Japan.
New Zealander Schmidt will coach the Wallabies from March 1 until at least the conclusion of the British and Irish Lions Tour in 2025, governing body Rugby Australia (RA) announced.
“I thought it was a good opportunity to try to pitch in and get Australia up and running,” Schmidt told a news conference.
The Wallabies in the World Cup were “not an Australian team that I recognised”, he said.
“That was when it first really came on my radar.”
“It’s a rebuild that will take a little bit of time and I’m probably a pragmatist – I can’t promise anything other than I’ll be working really hard to try to make it as successful as it can be,” the incoming coach said.
“I’m also a realistic coach – you are judged on your outcomes and you live or die by them.”
Asked if he would have preferred a longer contract, Schmidt said the new role would mean him spending less time at home helping his son, who “suffers quite badly with epilepsy”.
“If we can get the job done over the next 18 months and we can get the momentum heading in the right direction, then I will feel like have done my part of it and I’ll be happy to hand on.”
Last month, long-serving World Rugby administrator Peter Horne was appointed as RA’s new director of highperformance, with David Nucifora returning home from his role as Ireland’s highperformance director to help.