Super Rugby coach 'not in the mix' for Wallabies job
SPOTLIGHT: Waratahs head coach Dan McKellar ruled himself out of the running to take over from Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt, saying on Thursday he was “not in the mix”.
New Zealand’s Schmidt announced in February that he will stand down after Australia’s Bledisloe Cup clash with the All Blacks on October 4 in Perth to spend more time with his family.
McKellar has been touted as a potential candidate to become Australia’s fifth coach in six years, after Michael Cheika, Dave Rennie, Eddie Jones and Joe Schmidt.
However, he said he was not interested.
“I’m not in the mix for the Wallabies gig,” he told reporters as he prepared the Waratahs for a clash with Super Rugby table-toppers Chiefs in Sydney on Friday.
“I came back to help rugby in this country by helping New South Wales and the Waratahs.
“I’m loving the challenge, loving the players and staff. We’ve got a tremendous facility, and I’m enjoying life in Sydney.
“That’s my job, and I’ve signed here for three years,” he said.
McKellar only joined the club this season after a stint with English Premiership giants Leicester, which followed a successful spell with the Brumbies.
Removing himself from the conversation has left the Reds’ Les Kiss as a frontrunner.
Kiss is contracted to the Reds until the end of next year, but Rugby Australia chief Phil Waugh indicated on Wednesday that he was open to the idea of a Wallabies coach also holding a Super Rugby job.
“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,” Waugh said.
Schmidt will lead the Wallabies against the British and Irish Lions in June, July and August, followed by the Rugby Championship before quitting.
The new coach will lead them to the 2027 World Cup, which Australia will host.
