'Shared services': New Wallaby coach could have dual role

SPOTLIGHT: Rugby Australia CEO Phil Waugh has indicated he is open to the next Wallaby coach holding a Super Rugby Pacific job, potentially paving the way for Les Kiss to lead both the Queensland Reds and the national team.

Officials on Wednesday unveiled a new five-year broadcast rights deal worth AUS$ 240 million, representing a raise of beyond 30 percent on the last agreement.

Bonuses will be on offer for on-field success, while all Super Rugby matches will be behind a paywall unless the broadcaster decides to move them to a free-to-air channel.

But there is also a more imminent deal Rugby Australia need to commit to, after Joe Schmidt’s decision to step down as coach this August.

Wallaby flyhalf Noah Lolesio admitted this week that the uncertainty around the next coach had played a part in his decision to move to Japan.

Super Rugby Pacific teams had also believed a decision would be made by now, after Schmidt made the call in February to walk away for family reasons.

Waugh said on Wednesday his organisation were in “the final stages” of appointing a coach, claiming he was hopeful of an announcement “reasonably quickly”.

Kiss remains a front-runner for the job, but is contracted to the Reds until the end of next year.

RA is desperate to prioritise Super Rugby, with all four Australian sides currently in the top six, which is viewed as crucial to the Wallabies’ success.

It would potentially be feasible for Kiss to take on the Wallaby role for this year’s European tour, before job-sharing next year and finishing up with the Reds at the end of the 2026 season.

“We’re looking at the whole ecosystem,” Waugh said.

“Historically, we’ve talked about a Wallabies head coach and that takes the attention away from assistant coaches and what’s happening within the Super Rugby environment.

“We’re focusing on how to get 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.

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

Asked directly if he was open to a coach juggling roles, Waugh said: “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.”

Kiss would not entertain the question of juggling jobs when asked on Wednesday, insisting his focus was on a Reds side who will be without Wallaby captain Harry Wilson until close to the finals with a fractured arm.

Waugh also said he was interested in having Schmidt remain involved at some level, with the coming years crucial for Australian rugby and the home World Cup in 2027.

Kiss and Schmidt have worked together previously in Ireland.

“What that looks like practically in the environment post the announcement of a new head coach, we’ll work through,” Waugh said.

“But Joe’s very much in the conversation.

“How do we keep Joe involved if that’s what the new coach would like and also equally if that’s what Joe’s appetite is?”

Rugby’s marquee man Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii said on Wednesday he did not expect to be rested before July’s Tests against the British & Irish Lions.

Suaalii missed five weeks with a foot injury early in the season, before returning a fortnight ago for the Waratahs.

“I don’t want any more breaks. If they want me to have a break, I will be pretty stern about wanting to play every game,” Suaalii said.