Joe Schmidt set for role with Irish province

The prodigal son returns!

The Richie Muprhy coached province made big strides last season, reaching the Challenge Cup final, but finished outside of the top eight in the URC, failing to qualify for the upcoming season's Champions Cup.

Schmidt is widely regarded as the best coach in the history of Irish rugby; winning two Champions Cups with Leinster, before guiding Ireland to two Six Nations titles plus a Grand Slam in 2018, while also giving the country an identity as a pragmatic and uber-clinical side.

Since leaving Ireland he has had assistant roles with the Auckland Blues and New Zealand - famously helping them beat Ireland in the 2023 World Cup quarter-final - before becoming head coach of Australia in 2024 - a role which he left this summer.

When asked recently about taking up another head coach role after Australia, he said: "I don't really have any ambition to keep coaching as a head coach or anything else.

On a possible return to Leinster, he added: "I don't feel like I need to be a head coach, and I certainly don't need to be a national head coach.

"They've already got my son working for them, so I don't think they need the whole family," said Schmidt with a smile.

"I think Leinster are a juggernaut. I know silverware in Europe is the massive benchmark for them, but they've done everything but that and been so competitive and so consistent."

"You guys know me well. I'm very short-term focused. I'm just trying to get through these last three games to help as best I can and help the group grow a little bit further.

"I feel like they are great. I feel like I can take a few steps back, and they can really lead themselves now.

"I think that's a great transition for Les in that they can grab the reins. I fly to Ireland on 10 August to go up and see my new grandson. I'm certainly going up there, but not to be coaching really. I'll be looking forward to that heatwave!"