Reds vacancy among ‘most attractive in world’: QRU
Murray Wenzel |
The Queensland Reds’ coaching job will be among the most attractive club vacancies in the world once Les Kiss leaves to take over the Wallabies.
That’s the belief of Queensland Rugby Union boss David Hanham, who is thrilled their prized recruit will remain at Ballymore until his contract expires next year.
Kiss will take over from current Test coach Joe Schmidt, but do so later than initially expected in a contractual twist that presents as a win-win for club and country.
Once Rugby Australia identified Kiss as their desired coach, the QRU pitched several options that included an immediate release, serving in both roles in 2026 or delaying his start.
Schmidt, who coached Ireland with Kiss as his assistant and owns a 6-5 record at the helm of the rebuilding Wallabies, was happy to remain in the job a year longer than initially planned to accommodate his old mate.
So Kiss will complete his contract at Ballymore, where the Reds sit fourth and are eyeing a finals runs, rather than leave his post in October and trigger a QRU scramble to find his replacement.
“The process … can be managed with patience,” Hanham said of the search for a coach from 2027.
“We believe that this role is one of the most attractive jobs at a provincial level anywhere in the world.
“We have a world-class high-performance facility, staff and playing group shaped for success and a passionate fan base and commercial stability which underpins our ability to control our own destiny.”
At the time of Kiss’s appointment, Hanham told AAP his arrival had the potential to impact the code more substantially than any big-name player signing.
“It has a halo effect on the quality of footy,” he said in July 2023 of the man who boasted a 26-year coaching resume spanning Australia, Europe, the UK and South Africa.
The proof will be in the pudding but the Reds have shown title-winning potential under Kiss, injuries mounting but still well placed ahead of a tough, five-game run to the finals.
“Since Les returned to Queensland following more than 20 years overseas and interstate, it has been clear to us that he is an outstanding coach and a great person,” Hanham said.
“Les has undoubtedly made our players better, and the implementation of his entertaining game plan has positively influenced attendance at Reds matches and our broader commerciality as a business.”
AAP
