Joe Schmidt is close to becoming the new head coach of the Australian rugby team according to reports Down Under.
The Sydney Morning Herald reports that Schmidt will be announced in the coming days once the paperwork for his contract is finalised. Australian website The Roar adds that Schmidt's deal is "essentially done" and that senior players were informed about the New Zealander's imminent appointment on Wednesday.
It means, barring a disastrous opening period to his tenure with the Wallabies, the former Ireland head coach will be in charge when the Lions tour Australia in the summer of 2025.
17 March 2018; Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt and Jonathan Sexton ahead of the NatWest Six Nations Rugby Championship match between England and Ireland at Twickenham Stadium in London, England. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
It was announced last week that Andy Farrell, current Ireland head coach, and the man who succeeded Schmidt in the role, will be the Lions' head coach for the tour.
Schmidt was Ireland's head coach between 2013 and 2019, a time in which he led the side to the three Six Nations titles, including the Grand Slam in 2018. Farrell was Ireland's defence coach during the final three years of Schmidt's reign.
After his time with Ireland finished, Schmidt took up a role with World Rugby and subsequently became part of the All Blacks backroom staff. He was an assistant to Ian Foster at last year's World Cup as New Zealand knocked out Andy Farrell's Ireland side at the quarter-final stage.
16 June 2018; Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt, right, with Australia head coach Michael Cheika prior to the 2018 Mitsubishi Estate Ireland Series 2nd Test match between Australia and Ireland at AAMI Park, in Melbourne, Australia. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
Schmidt will succeed Eddie Jones as Australia's head coach. Jones stepped down from the role in October following a disastrous World Cup.
The 58-year-old Schmidt will be the third New Zealander to take charge of the Wallabies, following Robbie Deans and Dave Rennie.
Schmidt will link up with outgoing IRFU high performance director David Nucifora in Australia. Nucifora is set to take on an advisory role with Rugby Australia.
