Twist of fortune sees Georgia boss Haig help kick-start Schmidt’s career

Milton Haig has spent three years preaching the rugby gospel in Georgia in his role as the national team’s head coach, but the Kiwi will find it hard to top the influence he has had on the Irish game’s improving fortunes.

See, it was Haig who gave Joe Schmidt his big break. Well, sort of. The man himself doesn’t put it so dramatically, but it was his departure from Bay of Plenty that allowed the current Ireland coach grab a hold of the professional coaching ladder.

Schmidt made his name as a coach working alongside current Scotland boss man Vern Cotter at Bay of Plenty and Clermont Auvergne, but Haig was Cotter’s wing man until his career in newspapers forced him to up sticks.