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Les Kiss Appointed as New Head Coach for Australia Rugby

Les Kiss has been officially named the new head coach for Australia, stepping into the role after Joe Schmidt’s tenure. Kiss, currently the coach of the Queensland Reds, has signed a two-year contract that will span from 2026 to 2028.

During this transitional period, Schmidt will continue to lead Australia in crucial upcoming matches, including the home series against the British and Irish Lions this summer, as well as the 2025 Rugby Championship and the 2025 Autumn Nations Series, all of which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports. Kiss will complete his responsibilities with the Reds before taking over.

At 60 years old, Kiss brings a wealth of experience, having served as an assistant to Schmidt during his time with Ireland from 2013 to 2015. Prior to that, he held the position of defence coach under Declan Kidney from 2009 to 2013.

Following his tenure with Ireland, Kiss took on coaching roles with Ulster from 2015 to 2018, and afterwards, London Irish from 2018 until 2023. He returned to Australia to assume his current role with the Reds in Super Rugby in 2024.

Expressing his enthusiasm about the new position, Kiss stated, “This is an incredibly exciting time for Australian rugby, and I am humbled by the opportunity to serve as Wallabies head coach from next year. Joe and I have a strong relationship and a long history of working together, and I am looking forward to building upon the excellent foundations he has laid with the Wallabies.”

This change signifies the Wallabies’ fifth head coach change in just six years.

Michael Cheika stepped down after the 2019 Rugby World Cup quarter-final defeat against England. His successor, Dave Rennie, faced controversy when he was dismissed just before the 2023 World Cup in France, making way for Eddie Jones, who returned with a five-year contract. However, after a disappointing performance that saw Australia fail to advance from their World Cup pool for the first time, Jones was relieved of his duties within nine months. Schmidt, who took the reins in early 2024, announced his intention to leave after experiencing personal challenges, choosing to spend more time with family.

Initially, Schmidt planned to step down after this year’s Rugby Championship in October but has adjusted his timeline to ensure a smoother transition for Kiss. “My intention to finish at the end of this year’s Rugby Championship has been adjusted to fit with Les’ availability,” Schmidt remarked. “I think he’s doing a great job with the Reds, so it was important to dovetail with his responsibilities there.”

Schmidt acknowledged the commitment required for the challenging matches ahead: “It has certainly been a privilege to be involved with the Wallabies. The staff and players have worked hard, but we all know there’s a lot more hard work ahead of us with the British and Irish Lions here in a few months’ time.”

Looking forward, Australia is set to host the next Rugby World Cup in 2027.

British & Irish Lions Tour of Australia on Sky Sports

Sky Sports will exclusively broadcast the 2025 British and Irish Lions tour of Australia, featuring all three Tests against the Wallabies, along with six warm-up matches.

British and Irish Lions 2025 Tour Schedule

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www.skysports.com