- The Wallabies were eliminated in the group stage of the World Cup
- Has not won a Bledisloe Cup since 2002
- They have revealed great plans to win both.
Rugby Australia could have an answer from Joe Schmidt this week about extending his coaching contract beyond the British and Irish Lions tour, but believes it has an Australian coach ready and waiting in case he leaves.
Schmidt’s contract talks come amid RA’s publication of an ambitious five-year strategy document that includes winning the Bledisloe Cup and Rugby Championship every two years.
The Wallabies have made great strides since Schmidt took the reins this year, with players and fans alike pleading for the New Zealand coach to remain in charge until the next World Cup in Australia in 2027.
On their recent tour of the UK, the Aussies picked up wins against England and Wales and were unlucky not to defeat heavyweights Ireland in Dublin.
Currently on holiday in Ireland, where his family members reside, Schmidt will return to Sydney this week, with RA boss Phil Waugh looking to lock him down long-term.
“We’ve been working with Joe, he’s still overseas and he’ll be back this week, so we’re looking forward to sitting down with Joe and working on the post-Lions plan,” Waugh said.
Rugby Australia boss Phil Waugh has laid out an ambitious roadmap for success in the coming years, including Bledisloe and World Cup victories.
The rejuvenated Wallabies recently beat England at home before another encouraging victory against Wales.
“He’s worked hard and there’s been progress around the Wallabies, and he’s surrounded himself with some really good people.”
“It is now important to reassure players and staff over the coming weeks.”
He said RA was working on a ‘contingency plan’ in case Schmidt didn’t commit until the World Cup, with Australia’s Super Rugby coaches being the obvious candidates.
“We’re working on what that might look like, which is appropriate business practice when you’re not getting certain results,” Waugh said.
“I think Joe was pretty clear about the fact that he saw his responsibility in elevating Australia and also providing a platform for an Australian to take over when he’s done.
“If you look at our Super Rugby clubs, now the four head coaches across the system: Simon Cron is a strong coach at the Force, you’ve got Stephen Larkin at the Brumbies, Les Kiss at Queensland and Dan McKellar at NSW, so We have four very strong coaches in our system.
“I think we are well positioned.”
RA’s strategic plan, called “Green to Gold”, has three “pillars” – performance excellence, participation growth and promotion effectiveness – and aims to return Australia to its status as the rugby nation best ranked.
It wasn’t long ago that the Wallabies were eliminated from the World Cup in the group stage for the first time in history.
RA admits it has set “high” targets, including reaching the final four of the men’s and women’s Rugby World Cup (both in 2027), improving the win rate to 70 per cent, with the men’s team also aiming to win the Bledisloe Cup every two. years, a trophy they have not won since 2002.
It also aims for Australian teams to win gold at the Los Angeles Olympics and two Super Rugby titles.
RA president Daniel Herbert said the difference between this strategy document and those of the past was that everyone, including member unions, was now pulling in one direction.
“Collectively, stakeholders have worked together over the past 10 months…we have had three stakeholder summits and other meetings,” Herbert said.
“We are very proud of how the game has come together to deliver this strategic document, and we look forward to working alongside member unions to ensure we deliver on the big ambitions we have for the code over the next five years.
‘We are a long way from where we have come from, in the last 12 months so far, but we still have a long way to go.
“We think it’s possible, but there’s a lot of work to be done.”