“I have therefore come to an agreement with New Zealand Rugby to terminate my contract early to give the new coaching group the time they need to prepare and lead the team to the next World Cup. As you can imagine I am gutted by this result. I care deeply about this team. Due to the sensitivity of this situation I will make no further comment.”
The former All Blacks breakaway has been appointed to New Zealand’s top job after a big success with the Crusaders. Robertson won three consecutive Super Rugby titles in his first three seasons as South Island heavyweight head coach.
Robertson was appointed All Blacks coach in March 2023 while Ian Foster was still in the role. Robertson took over in 2024 after Foster led the All Blacks to the World Cup final, where they lost to South Africa. Robertson is leaving just two years into a four-year term.
Schmidt is contracted to the Wallabies after they face Italy on July 18, the same day New Zealand take on Ireland at Eden Park.
Schmidt was originally due to step down from his role with the Wallabies after The Rugby Championship, but has agreed to stay on until the end of July to ensure a smooth transition to incoming coach Les Kiss, who will finish the Super Rugby season with the Queensland Reds.
Rugby Australia is extremely pleased with Schmidt’s association with the Wallabies and the New Zealander maintains a close bond with the team. I oversaw a training camp in Sydney earlier this month.
Joe Schmidt talks with coach Scott Robertson in September.Credit: Getty Images
Sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, say Schmidt is unlikely to seek an early termination of his contract with Rugby Australia, but New Zealand Rugby could still appoint an interim coach until he is available. Schmidt would also attract interest from his former club, Irish giants Leinster, should coach Jacques Nienaber leave.
NZR is without a chief executive following the departure of former All Black Mark Robinson, who stepped down in June. Sydney-based former All Blacks captain David Kirk is chairman of the NZR.
A strong contender for the full-time appointment is Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph, who was recently appointed to lead the All Blacks XV, essentially a second national team.
Joseph’s departure would leave the Highlanders scrambling to find a replacement for the Super Rugby season starting on February 13.
Jamie Joseph narrowly missed out on Scott Robertson for the All Blacks job and could be his successor.Credit: Getty Images
Robertson took over one of the biggest jobs in world rugby from Foster. Foster is a close ally of Schmidt and the Wallabies coach was unimpressed by the pressure placed on the former coach in the latter stages of his tenure.
“A lot of it was about integrity,” Schmidt said in Foster’s book Leadership under pressure. “Not only did New Zealand rugby contribute to the pressure that was put on, but people targeting ‘Fozzie’. [Foster].
“There was a podcast – with Jim Hamilton and Scott Robertson. That’s in the public domain. It was pressure and advertising that [Robertson] he wanted to win the World Cup with two different teams.
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“And him.” [Robertson] exerted pressure by initiating an interview with “Bula” when a vacancy in Fiji was discussed. This was happening in the foreground, not in the background. That was the tip of the iceberg and it was bloody embarrassing for Foz.”
The All Blacks face one of the most challenging seasons in their history, with France, Italy and Ireland competing in the Nations Championship in July. This will be followed by a six-week, four-Test tour of South Africa from August to October.
The All Blacks will then take on the Wallabies in the Bledisloe Cup in October before returning to Europe to take on Scotland, Wales and England.
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