Schmidt wants Ireland job, but wary of leaving Leinster in lurch

Joe Schmidt could ink a deal to succeed Declan Kidney as Irish coach within a week, following his first public declaration of interest over the weekend.

The only apparent bar to Schmidt making the move from province to country is his reluctance to walk away from the Heineken Cup holders before the end of his current contract. However, given that the IRFU control the purse strings, it’s impossible to contemplate a Leinster objection to the Kiwi moving up to the national job.

In the aftermath of Leinster’s Rabo-Direct victory over Munster at Thomond Park on Saturday, Schmidt admitted he wouldn’t rule out the move.