Kiss' biggest challenges before 2027 World Cup
SPOTLIGHT: New Australia coach Les Kiss will have little over a year to mould the Wallabies into a force to challenge for their home Rugby World Cup in 2027.
Kiss was announced on Wednesday as Joe Schmidt’s replacement, but only from mid-July 2026 so he can see out his contract with the Reds.
The former Australia Rugby League international has been tasked with transforming the Wallabies into a World Cup-winning side, a feat last achieved in 1999 under Rod Macqueen.
Since then Eddie Jones (2003, 2023), John Connolly (2007), Robbie Deans (2011) and Michael Cheika (2015, 2019) have all failed to lift the Webb Ellis Cup.
Schmidt told reporters that he and Kiss were “of the same ilk” and their close working relationship meant he had no fears about his successor’s short lead-up to the World Cup, to be played in October-November 2027.
“We share a lot of the same philosophy, albeit with a slightly different approach in some areas. I think that like-minded philosophy will allow a pretty smooth transition,” Schmidt said.
Schmidt and Kiss are long-time collaborators, notably as head coach and assistant with Ireland, where they won three Six Nations titles.
New Zealander Schmidt was installed to restore the Wallabies’ reputation after they slumped to 10th in the world following a horror 2023 World Cup under Jones, crashing out at the group stage for the first time.
Long-term project
While he is credited with bringing stability and a new work ethic, Australia are still only ranked eighth with Schmidt presiding over six wins and seven defeats.
They need to climb into the top six to avoid being in the same pool at the 2027 showpiece as heavyweights such as holders South Africa, New Zealand or Ireland.
Schmidt, who was due to stand down for family reasons after the Rugby Championship this year but will now stay on through to mid-2026, said reviving the Wallabies was a long-term project and Kiss was the right man to see it through.
Last year Schmidt fielded 19 debutants and now has a solid core of players who have committed to Australian rugby until at least the World Cup.
“We’re not chasing targets, we’re building behaviours,” said 59-year-old Schmidt.
“It’s people first. Build what you need from the bottom up, rather than chasing the top end of things.
“Success for me is getting the performance behaviours right. Getting the culture right.”
It is from that strived-for base that Kiss will assume control and the Queenslander was singing from the same hymn book when the pair spoke to the media together on Wednesday.
“If your culture is strong, you can go far,” said the 60-year-old Kiss, adamant he had no intention to “rip and tear”.
“I’m going to make sure I dovetail as much as I can and I’ll bring my points of difference into play, but we have a lot of things in common,” added the former rugby league wing.
“We’re a bloody talented country and we can play the game, so I’m looking forward to the challenge.”
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‘Minimal disruption’
Rugby Australia had looked at the idea of allowing Kiss to coach both the Reds and the Wallabies but opted against that.
As a result, they avoided having to pay an early release fee to the Reds, a handy saving after lodging an A$36.8 million (US$23.5 million) deficit in 2024.
The governing body is anticipating a record surplus this year on the back of the British and Irish Lions tour from July to August, which will springboard them into the Kiss reign and the home World Cup.
“RA made clear from the outset our goal was achieving continuity with the Wallabies and minimal disruption to Super Rugby clubs,” said RA chief executive Phil Waugh.
“We are confident we have landed on the best possible outcome which allows Australian rugby to enter its next, exciting chapter with confidence and clarity.”
