What is Joe Schmidt’s next job and why is he quitting Ireland?
JOE SCHMIDT will leave Ireland as head coach at the end of the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
Former England coach Andy Farrell will take over, with the New Zealander set to call time on his six-year reign.
What is Joe Schmidt’s next job?
There are not that many bigger jobs in international rugby for Joe Schmidt to move into – and he is swiping those away as well.
The 54-year-old New Zealander ruled out taking over the nation of his birth in January and even told that he has no interest in getting another job for 12 months after the World Cup, as reported by The Irish Times.
Schmidt has also insisted he would go for the British & Irish Lions role with fellow countryman Warren Gatland retaining the job for the 2021 tour.
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Why is Joe Schmidt quitting?
The Irish head coach had been looking to move back to New Zealand once his left the job, in a bid to move nearer to his family.
But, as reported by the Irish Sun, he will remain in Ireland with his wife Kellie and four children settled in the country.
Schmidt said: “We’ll probably stay in Ireland for some time. We’re pretty settled there.
“A big motivator for me to get back was family and unfortunately we lost our mum recently, so on the back of that we’ll take a bit of a breath and make some decisions beyond that.”
What is Schmidt’s Ireland record?
Joe Schmidt has coached Ireland through one of their most successful periods, winning three Six Nations – including the Grand Slam in 2018, picking up the World Rugby Coach of the Year title in the same season.
In his six years there, he has guided them to 50 wins in 69 matches prior to their World Cup campaign.
That figure includes an impressive two victories over reigning champions New Zealand – but the last World Cup in 2015 saw the Irish kicked out in the first knockout round by Argentina.