Joe Schmidt to depart Australia head coach role after 2025 Rugby Championship 

SO LONG, JOE: Head coach Joe Schmidt speaks to the press during an Australia Rugby media conference at the Radisson St Helen's Hotel in Dublin. Pic: Ben McShane/Sportsfile

Joe Schmidt is set to depart his role as head coach of Australia after the 2025 Rugby Championship. 

The former Ireland boss has extended his stay with the Wallabies to cover the visit of the British and Irish Lions and the Rugby Championship, but will not continue thereafter.

Schmidt replaced Eddie Jones after Australia’s underperformance at the 2023 World Cup.

Australian Rugby will now turn its focus to recruiting a new head coach to steer them towards the 2027 World Cup.

“After noting the positive impact Joe has made with the Wallabies playing and coaching staff, we were keen that he stay on after the Lions series,” Peter Horne, Australia's director of high performance, said in a statement. 

"Joe expressed to us that he was enjoying his work with the Wallabies while also making clear his need to spend more time at home with his family.”