SUPER RUGBY FRANCHISE the Chiefs have joined the list of suitors hoping to snap up Joe Schmidt if he leaves the Ireland job to return to New Zealand.
Schmidt’s Ireland contract runs out next summer and speculation about his long-term future here has intensified since the end of the summer tour in South Africa.
The 50-year-old has already indicated that family circumstances, and his son Luke’s health in particular, will be a key consideration if he decides to move home to his native New Zealand.
And the Chiefs have joined the Highlanders in publicly stating their desire to bring in Schmidt if that does happen.
“Joe is definitely a guy we’d be interested in having a discussion with,” Chiefs CEO Andrew Flexman told Stuff website.
“I’ve been made aware of the fact there’s the potential for him to look at moving home next year and there’s been some attention around the Highlanders having some interest in him.
If he was to return, given his pedigree and personal circumstances and the fact he’s coached in the Bay of Plenty, he’s certainly a guy we’d love to talk to.
Current Chiefs coach Dave Rennie is under contract until 2018 but has an opt-out clause which could see him leave at the end of next season, paving the way for a new man to take charge.
“Given what (Schmidt) has achieved in his coaching career, if we are looking to appoint a new head coach then he’d be an obvious candidate,” Flexman added.
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