- Coach will finish up after the Rugby Championship in October
- Rugby Australia had been keen for the Kiwi to stay on
- Schmidt has explained why he needs to stay true to his decision
Joe Schmidt has revealed the reason why he had to stand down as Wallabies coach, even with a significant offer on the table to continue on until at least the next Rugby World Cup.
Schmidt recently announced his resignation as head coach of the Wallabies, effective after the 2025 Rugby Championship.
During his tenure, Schmidt revitalised Australian rugby after the return of Eddie Jones led to a disastrous and historic World Cup exit in the group stages.
Schmidt was instrumental in leading the team to notable victories over England and Wales and fostering a competitive spirit that had been lacking in previous years.
He introduced 18 new players to the international stage in 2024, the most significant influx since the 1920s.
Rugby Australia had been desperate for the New Zealand-born coach to remain at the helm until after the next World Cup, but Schmidt has revealed that family had to come first.
Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt will stand down from the position after the Rugby Championship
It comes after the New Zealand coach helped turn around the Wallabies fortunes after the World Cup disaster
Schmidt’s wife Kellie and son Luke have remained in New Zealand while he has coached the Wallabies, with Luke battling epilepsy.
So the Wallabies coach decided it was time to put family first, which is why he had to stick to his guns and stand down as Wallabies mentor.
‘I’ve got to say the first thing is I’ve loved it, loved the opportunity,’ Schmidt told Stan Sport’s Morgan Turinui on Friday night.
‘It’s been a privilege and the players, the staff, it’s been a bit of a whirlwind, but it’s been a heck of a lot of fun.
‘And so it’s disappointing for me but I also know that it’s something that I need to commit to finishing up.’
Schmidt had originally wanted to finish up his tenure after this year’s British and Irish Lions tour in August.
However he has agreed to stay on until October to oversee the Rugby Championship and Australia’s bid to break its long-running Bledisloe Cup hoodoo.
‘I also know that to finish up after the Lions, six days, you’re flying to to Jo’burg to play the South Africans,’ he said.
Schmidt regenerated the Wallabies by bringing in a host of players, including former NRL star Joseph-Aukuso Sua’ali’i
Wallabies half Jake Gordon has praised the work Schmidt has done and hopes he stays on as a consultant
‘I don’t think that’s the best time for a transition. So the end of the TRC is probably a good compromise.
‘So I’m looking forward to seeing the boys go against the Lions and working with them again.’
Wallabies halfback Jake Gordon has previously said he hopes Schmidt remains connected with the Australian international side in a consultancy role.
‘He (Schmidt) was awesome for my development as a rugby player and I’m just happy with whatever he wanted to do, and he’s decided to really put his family first, which is a credit to him,’ Gordon said.
‘And I know how much he loves rugby too. He really enjoys his rugby and I look back and reflect that I had a really good six months with him and hopefully I can rejoin him again for what’s ahead.
‘But I’m thankful I got to spend some time with him.’
