Joe Schmidt will make Christmas call on his future

Joe Schmidt will reach a decision on his future as Ireland head coach over the Christmas period.

The New Zealander, who has cemented his position as Irish rugby’s greatest national team boss by securing a Six Nations Grand Slam this season, is out of contract with the IRFU at the end of the next World Cup, which kicks off in Japan in 15 months.

IRFU performance director David Nucifora said earlier this week that the governing body would do everything they could to retain Schmidt’s services beyond the 2019 World Cup.