Les Kiss appears poised to be appointed successor to Wallabies head coach Joe Schmidt following a clandestine meeting in Brisbane on Tuesday.

According to The Roar, Rugby Australia chief Phil Waugh and high-performance director Peter Horne met with Queensland Reds officials to discuss Kiss’ future, though the 60-year-old, currently contracted to the Reds until the end of the 2026 Super Rugby season, was absent.

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While details remain confidential, the talks reportedly centered on Kiss assuming the Wallabies role after the 2025 Rugby Championship in October while continuing to fulfill his Reds commitments.

Waugh on Wednesday endorsed a potential job-sharing arrangement, emphasising that success in Super Rugby is foundational to Test match victories — a view supported by historical trends since 1996. Kiss’ dual role would mark a return to a model last seen in 2015, when Michael Cheika successfully juggled Waratahs and Wallabies duties, leading the latter to the World Cup final.

Under Kiss’ leadership, the 5-2 Reds are third on the Super Rugby table, eyeing a second title. For Australia, a strong 2025 is critical for World Rugby rankings ahead of the 2027 World Cup draw.

Waugh stressed continuity and performance, noting Schmidt’s ongoing involvement post-tenure remains an option. Amid player uncertainty, exemplified by flyhalf Noah Lolesio’s decision to take his rugby to Japan, Waugh underscored the urgency of providing clarity to ensure stability and success leading into the home World Cup.

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