Statement: Joe Schmidt quits Wallabies role to care for son
Yesterday at 03:13 PM
Joe Schmidt's future has been settled, with Rugby Australia (RA) confirming they will begin their search for a new head coach immediately.
Find your local Greene King and settle in for the 2025 Six Nations!
The New Zealander has agreed to stay on beyond the 2025 British and Irish Lions series but will step away after this year's Rugby Championship.
RA had hoped to keep Schmidt in charge until the 2027 Rugby World Cup on home soil, but family commitments—particularly his son Luke's battle with severe epilepsy—have influenced his decision.
Clear direction
This announcement gives RA the clarity to focus on finding a long-term successor to lead the Wallabies into the next World Cup.
"We are delighted Joe will continue to coach the Wallabies beyond his current contract," said director of high performance Peter Horne.
"After noting the positive impact Joe has made with the Wallabies playing and coaching staff, we were keen that he stay on after the Lions series.
"Joe expressed to us that he was enjoying his work with the Wallabies while also making clear his need to spend more time at home with his family."
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Six England stars who could switch nations for the 2027 Rugby World Cup
Under the revised rules, players can represent a new nation if they've gone three years without a Test cap and have a qualifying birthright through a parent or grandparent.
While some players have hinted at potential switches, others are already positioning themselves for a move. Here are six England stars who could pull on a different jersey in 2027.
Ollie Hassell-Collins – From the Rose to the Dragon?
Ollie Hassell-Collins has made it clear—if England don't come calling soon, he's open to switching to Wales.
The Leicester Tigers winger, capped twice by England in the 2023 Six Nations, has been frozen out under Steve Borthwick. But with Welsh ancestry on his side, he'll qualify for Warren Gatland's squad in early 2026.
Gatland himself has already hinted he'd welcome Hassell-Collins into the Welsh camp, and the speedster hasn't ruled it out either.
“I have seen Gatland's interview. I've got two caps for England, and obviously I'm English. But if I don't see anything in the next few years then it's definitely something that I would consider.”
With Wales on the hunt for attacking firepower, a switch to the valleys could be on the cards.
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